Hoey the pick of the Irish in Singapore

Golf:Michael Hoey and Shane Lowry lead the Irish challenge after 36 holes in the Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club. Hoey is four shots behind the clubhouse leader James Morrison, who finished his second round 12 under par.

The Ulsterman is within touching distance at eight under and Lowry one further back in a group that includes Justin Rose, at seven under par.

James Morrison followed his opening 62 with a second-round 68 to pull two strokes clear. The 26-year-old began the day level with Italian Edoardo Molinari at the top of the leaderboard but immediately dropped a stroke at the first on the more difficult Serapong course.

A birdie at the seventh erased the damage but another bogey at the ninth saw the Englishman drop to one over on the day.

However, Morrison fought back on the homeward nine, picking up birdies at the 11th, 13th and 14th before a thunderstorm caused a delay of almost three hours.

On the resumption of play, he was able to par the next three holes before an excellent approach to two feet on the par-five last brought another birdies and saw him move to 12 under par at the halfway mark.

Morrison led Juvic Pagunsan by two strokes after the Filipino returned an impressive 66 on the Serapong course that featured six birdies and a bogey.

Anders Hansen joined Molinari on nine under as the Tanjong course continued to give up low scores. The Dane posted seven birdies in a 64 as a strong finish saw him pick up shots on the final two holes with a long birdie putt at the 18th moving him to within three of Morrison. Molinari was even for the day through two holes.

YE Yang remained eight under par after two holes of his second round while Justin Rose moved into contention with the Englishman seven under par through 14 holes.

Following an underwhelming start due to a bogey at the first, Rose quickly found his rhythm as a birdie at the third was followed by four in a row from the sixth - a solid birdie putt on the ninth reflecting the Englishman’s confidence.

A birdie putt at the 11th just grazed the edge of the hole and he failed to capitalise on an opportunity at the 13th but collected his sixth birdie of the day on the next thanks to another fine approach.

A bogey at the last proved a frustrating end to Anthony Kim’s round, the American carding a 66 to finish in a large group on six under par that also included Irishman Shane Lowry - two under through 10 holes in his second round - and 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.