Philip Walton will be hoping for a new beginning from the tournament which effectively launched his professional career, when he carries an eight-under-par halfway total into the third round of the £1 million Murphy's Irish Open on the Old Course today. A second-successive 67 has left Walton sharing fourth place in what is developing into a thrilling event for the home players.

At the end of a day of remarkably low scoring, Patrik Sjoland claimed the outright lead on 129 (13 under par), while the evergreen Des Smyth was only a stroke further behind Walton. Then came Paddy Gribben, among a further eight Irish qualifiers, making 11 in all.

Within a month of turning professional in the summer of 1983, Walton played in the Irish Open at Royal Dublin. And a reward of £1,060 for a share of 26th place, was sufficient to win him a European Tour card which he went on to retain for 16 years - until the end of last season.

"Saturday has tended to be an unlucky day for me, but I really want to keep it going this time," he said yesterday. "This is a great chance for the sort of high finish I'll need to regain my card. My only other sponsor's invitation is next week (the Smurfit European Open)." Walton's confidence received a huge lift when, after starting on the 10th tee yesterday, he proceeded to reduce the 499-yard 11th to a drive, three-iron and 15-foot putt for an eagle three.

Meanwhile, Smyth - despite heading into the weekend in seventh place - felt that he hadn't made the most of his opportunity yesterday. "I'm disappointed. I left at least three or four shots out there," he remarked, after adding a 70 to his opening round 65 for seven-under-par 135.

"I'm not surprised these guys are shooting such scores. They're good. There are very good players on this tour, players who go to bed at night thinking of ripping a course apart - but the only reason they're doing it here is due to the absence of wind."

Some of his fellow-Irishmen were among those taking advantage of the mellow conditions. Indeed, one of the most notable performances came from Stephen Hamill, playing because of his Irish PGA ranking, who contrived to shoot 65 for five-under-par 137, a stroke behind Paddy Gribben.

Hamill's explanation for his much-improved form of late centred on a Scottie Cameron putter which he borrowed from fellow club pro Neil Manchip. "I was putting quite awful before I got my hands on this," said Hamill. It worked like a dream yesterday, enabling him to roll in seven birdies - the longest from 40 feet at the third hole, his 12th.

His effort allowed him to join Paul McGinley on that 137 mark (tied-13th). However, the Dubliner didn't enjoy as good a day at the office and was forced to produce back-to-back closing birdies for a 70 which effectively rescued his round.

There wasn't much satisfaction for Padraig Harrington either. "I struggled throughout all the round, my timing's just out so much," said Harrington, who shot a level par 71 for 138.

Darren Clarke was also expressing similar sentiments - although his problem centres on a putter that has gone cold. "I had 33 putts yesterday, 32 today, and you just can't keep doing that. I can't buy a putt at the moment and it is very frustrating," he said.

The other Irish players to make the cut were Waterville amateur Mark Murphy (two-under), Richard Coughlan (one-under) and Damian McGrane and Sean Quinlivan, both on level par.

With a double-digit survival rate of Irish players heading into the weekend (something which never occured throughout the entire 1990s), there remains the prospect that the locals won't allow the invaders to have it all their own way.

View the Open live on: www.ireland.com/sports