Sweden's Fredrik Lindgren celebrated his return to the European Tour with a blazing finish for a one-shot lead in the Turespana Masters in Malaga yesterday. Lindgren lost his card three years ago and had to qualify from the Challenge Tour last season. But he showed the sort of form which in 1992 saw him almost win the English Open.
An eagle and two birdies over the last four holes earned him a six-under-par 66 to set an 11-under 133 target.
"It's good to be back on tour again," said England-based Lindgren. "I know there's a lot of work to do to get back my old standard, but I'm getting there.
"This is the best I've played since coming back. My best finish is 16th in the five tournaments I've played this year. Now I've set this up I'm aiming to make my card early now for next year."
He is a stroke ahead of his more experienced compatriot Per-Ulrik Johansson and two Britons, Ian Garbutt and 1993 European Rookie of the Year Gary Orr.
Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez, Spain's Miguel Jimenez and Briton Steve Webster were a further shot back on 135.
The major tournament move came from Johansson's 1997 Ryder Cup team mate Ignacio Garrido. The Spaniard broke the course record by two strokes with a career-best 63. He ran in 11 birdies, only one short of the European record, and finished on 136.
It wasn't such a good day for the Irish with only Padraig Harrington and Des Smyth making the cut. Harrington followed his opening 71 with a three under 69 while Smyth shot a one under 71 for a two round total of 140.
"I am sure that my game is not far off. I am not complaining because I scored well today. I played better with a lot better attitude," said Harrington, who recorded six birdies during his round.
Darren Clarke threatened briefly to make it for the weekend's play when two consecutive birdies got him back to level par at the turn, but two sixes on the back nine saw his hopes disappear.
The 30-year-old finished on three over to miss out by six shots as the cut fell at three under - the lowest so far this season - and was in mood to share his thoughts on his round afterwards.
Clarke will now head to Florida where he will tee up in the first round of the Bay Hill Invitational next Thursday as a prelude to his appearance next month in the US Masters.
Clarke was not the only big casualty of the low cut with local favourites Jose Maria Olazabal, Seve Ballesteros and amateur star Sergio Garcia missing out by one shot as compatriot Juan Carlos Aguero claimed the 65th and last qualifying place.
And unknown 29-year-old Italian Marcello Santi fired eight birdies in a row to equal the European Tour record during his round of 65, although that was not good enough to make the cut.
Philip Walton missed playing this weekend by one shot after his two under 70 yesterday. Christy O'Connor Jnr and Eamon Darcy will also have an idle weekend after shooting 71 and 73 respectively while John McHnery's poor form continued with a four over par 76.
First-season professional Eric Booker added a six-under 66 to his opening 65 to lead the Honda Classic in Coral Springs, Florida yesterday.
Booker leads Bradley Hughes (68), Doug Dunakey (65) and Dicky Pride (68) by four shots. Paul Stankowski (67), Tommy Tolles (66) and Brian Watts (68) are one shot further back on 136.
First round leader Hal Sutton struggled to a one-over 73 and was joined on seven-under by Payne Stewart (67) while John Daly (67) and Mark O'Meara (70) head a group of 11 golfers on 138.
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