Murphy keeps pace in Russia

Spain's Francis Valera shot five-under-par 67 to move into a three-way tie for the lead after two rounds at the Russian Open today while Gary Murphy is just three shots off the pace.

Valera joined fellow Spaniard Carlos Rodiles and overnight leader David Drysdale at 12-under-par 132. Another Spaniard Alejandro Canizares had a bogey-free round with five birdies to move into contention, a stroke behind.

Defending champion Mikael Lundberg also had a good round with six birdies despite making a bogey on the last hole. The Swede and England's Andrew Butterfield, whom he beat in a sudden-death playoff last year to win his maiden European Tour title, are now tied for sixth alongside Murphy who was happy with his progress.

"No bogeys and I am only three off the lead," said the Kilkenny man after his round. "I still think 20 under is the mark to win here so I am on target. I played a lot better today than yesterday but just didn't hole as many putts. I probably left four chances out there in my first 13 holes. If I can keep playing the way I am then I'll have a chance."

"Most of the guys here are in precarious situations in terms of their cards, which will play on everyone's minds at the weekend," added Murphy in reference to a field missing the Europe's leading players who are competing at the USPGA in Medinah. "It's not as cut and dried as it seems. A lot can happen. If I can better what I did on the first two days then I will be very happy.

"I am just trying to concentrate and 'stay in the moment' as they say. I have basically missed ten events this year. I missed six when my daughter was born which was great, but I also missed the cuts in four big events so I am minus ten events almost and haven't played that badly.

David Higgins is two behind Murphy on seven under after he shot 67 while Stephen Browne and Michael Hoey both shot 69s to be five under.

Briton Drysdale, who shot 70, struggled to maintain yesterday's electric form when he equalled the course record with 10-under-par 62 at the Moscow Country Club in suburban Nakhabino.

"I was very tired today," said the 31-year-old Scot, still looking for his first European Tour victory. "Over the last few holes I was very tired. I had a nice run of four birdies in a row but then bogeyed two of the par threes and that is always disappointing."

England's 44-year-old Malcolm Mackenzie finished on level par, just missing the cut in his 599th European Tour event.

NHL All-Star Alexei Kovalev, making his European Tour debut as one of only four amateurs in the 111-strong field, came dead last at 19 over par.

The Montreal Canadiens right wing, who captained Russia's ice hockey team at this year's Turin Olympics, was nevertheless satisfied with his performance.

"I think I did just fine considering it was my first tournament of such a high calibre. Making the cut here would practically be equivalent to winning a Stanley Cup," Kovalev said, who lifted hockey's biggest prize with the New York Rangers in 1994.

Reuters.

This year the Russian Open became a fully fledged European Tour event for the first time in its 13-year history with €1million in total prize money.