Ireland cruise to eight-shot victory in ITC

PGA OF EUROPE:Eighteen holes on cruise control, with no dramatic charges necessary, saw Ireland safely through to victory in the PGAs of Europe's International Team Championship at Roda, Murcia, Spain, leaving the rest of the field to play a separate "match" for the lesser placings.

As the fearful weather of earlier days gave way to more typical Mediterranean conditions, Ireland's scoring simply became a case doing what they had to do.

This comprised two-under rounds by Eamon Brady from Clontarf and St Margaret's John Kelly, and a 73 from Greenore's Robert Giles, to carve four strokes off their overnight 16-under total for a phenomenal 20-under total of 556 and an eight-stroke margin over Scotland.

Sam Cairns typified the Scottish determination to chase a lost cause and could feel justifiably proud of his five-under-par 67, as could England's Paul Wesselingh who carded a similar score as his tournament contribution increased each day.

To complete a battling day for England, Paul Simpson carded a 69, leaving the second and third-placed teams wondering what the heck they had to do to slow down Ireland's trouble-free journey to their second ITC title.

EUROPEAN TOUR:South Africa's Tim Clark hit a second-round 70 to retain the lead at the Australian Masters at Huntingdale. The world number 53 would have expected to do better than shoot two under par, but at least he'll be in the mix when it counts, unlike tournament drawcard John Daly (76, 73), who missed the cut, along with Craig Parry, Stuart Appleby and Ireland's Gareth Maybin.

At seven under, Clark leads by one from Australia's Anthony Summers, who got to eight under before dropping two shots on his final three holes for a 68, and former world number one amateur Michael Sim, who fired an error-free 66.

One stroke further back among a menacing pack of seven players sits tournament favourite Robert Allenby, who picked up five shots on the back nine for a second-round 66.

Joint first-round leader Scott Hend finished with a one-over 73 to drop to four-under.