Harrington slips back as Poulter takes early lead

GOLF EUROPEAN TOUR:Ian Poulter ignored the rain to take the clubhouse lead midway through the Barclays Classic second round yesterday as Padraig Harrington slipped back after a four-over-par 75.

Poulter posted three birdies and four bogeys in miserable conditions at the 7,400-yard Liberty National to register a one-over-par 72 and a three-under aggregate of 139.

With no run on the rain-softened fairways and with winds blowing across the scenic course by New York harbour, par was a good score for the select field competing in the first leg of the PGA Tours four-tournament FedExCup series.

Americans Bill Haas (70) and Charles Howell III (70) produced the only sub-par rounds of the morning to finish on 142 and 146 respectively. Spain’s Sergio Garcia, who also shared the overnight lead, slid to a 76 for 141.

Harrington returned a 75 for 142. “I am used to it (the rain) but it doesn’t mean I like it,” said the Irishman.

CHALLENGE TOUR: Eric Ramsay made it a Scottish one-two at the top of the leaderboard when he joined his compatriot Scott Jamieson on 11-under-par 129 on the second day of the DHL Wroclaw Open.

Julien Guerrier of France carded a round of 64 to move to 10 under par, one shot clear of England’s Ally Mellor in fourth place.

Gareth Shaw is best of the Irish on five-under-par 135 after a second round 67.

LET TOUR: History repeated itself for Beatriz Recari as she held the opening day lead at the Finnair Masters.

The 22-year-old Spaniard led by a stroke on four-under-par after the first round of last year’s tournament, going on to tie for third place, which was her career best finish.

Fast forward 12 months and her love affair with Helsinki Golf Club continued on Friday as she opened with a six-under-par 65, leading by one over Iben Tinning. Claire Coughlan-Ryan leads the Irish on 70.

HOME INTERNATIONALS: From champions to wooden spoonists in the space of 12 months – that was the story for Ireland yesterday as the men's amateur home internationals ended at Hillside GC, Southport.

They failed to win a foursomes match against England, simply recording two halves and then won only one of the singles courtesy of Dara Lernihan who pipped Michael Stewart on the home green.

England won the title for the 34th time in the event’s 77-year history when they crushed Wales 10½-4½.

WOMEN: Ireland's Danielle McVeigh lies in joint fourth place going into today's the final round of the European Individual Championship at Falsterbo Golf Club, Sweden.

McVeighs second successive 75 after opening with a 70, sees her one stroke away from third place but 10 strokes off runaway leader Caroline Hedwall from Sweden.

The Swede followed her opening 70 and 74 with a tournament best 66.