Oldcorn chases spot at Druid's Glen

 GOLF/Madeira Open: Andrew Oldcorn yesterday put himself in pole position to qualify for next month's Seve Trophy in the Madeira Island Open.

Oldcorn began this week's final qualifying event in 11th place in the standings for Colin Montgomerie's Britain and Ireland team, needing to move up to ninth to secure his place at Druid's Glen for the Ryder Cup-style contest from April 19th-21st.

That position is currently occupied by Steve Webster, £13,500 sterling clear of Oldcorn, meaning the naturalised Scot needs to finish in at least the top five to overhaul Webster, depending on where the Englishman himself finishes.

Oldcorn at least looks in good shape to fulfil his side of the bargain after a second round 65 at Santo da Serra gave him a share of the halfway lead with Italy's Massimo Florioli.

The Volvo PGA champion carded eight birdies and just one bogey for a nine-under-par halfway total, matching Florioli's effort earlier in the day.

"The Seve Trophy is now in the forefront of my mind," admitted Oldcorn, at 83rd the highest ranked player in the field. "That's my priority over the weekend. Hopefully I can remain in the tournament as well until Sunday and we'll take it from there."

Seve Ballesteros made his first halfway cut of the season at his third attempt, despite being unable to reproduce the consistency that saw him shoot an opening 70.

The 44-year-old five-time major winner could only manage a 76 to finish on two-over, and did not have a single par on his back nine, recording four birdies, four bogeys and a double-bogey.

Playing partner Des Smyth was one-under after a 74, the defending champion looking unlikely to retain the crown that made him the oldest ever winner on the European Tour.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND SCORES (Brit unless stated, Irish in bold): 135 - Massimo Florioli (Ita) 70 65, Andrew Oldcorn 70 65 137 - Olivier David (Fra) 66 71 138 - Maarten Lafaber (Ned) 74 64, Benoit Teilleria (Fra) 68 70, Didier De Vooght (Bel) 71 67 139 - Santiago Luna (Spa) 69 70, David Lynn 73 66, Ivo Giner (Spa) 73 66 140 - Christophe Pottier (Fra) 70 70, Diego Borrego (Spa) 72 68, Charley Hoffman (USA) 70 70, David Drysdale 71 69, John Bickerton 72 68 141 - Paul Dwyer 71 70 142 Pehr Magnebrant (Swe) 73 69, Ian Hutchings (Rsa) 74 68, Yngve Nilsson (Swe) 73 69 143 - Philip Walton 70 73, Lee James 75 68, Philip Golding 73 70, Niels Kraiij (Ned) 75 68, Des Smyth 69 74, Oskar Bergman (Swe) 75 68, Shaun P Webster 74 69, Ilya Goroneskoul (Fra) 69 74 144 - Mark Mouland 74 70, Matthew Blackey, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 71 73, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 70 74, Benn Barham 70 74, Des Terblanche (Rsa) 70 74, Miles Tunnicliff 70 74, Scott Kammann (USA) 73 71, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 71 73, Steve Webster 74 70 145 - Jorge Berendt (Arg) 73 72, Mark James 77 68, Simon Wakefield 74 71 146 - Marcello Santi (Ita) 74 72, Tomas Jesus Munoz (Spa) 74 72, Sion Bebb 76 70, Ansi Kankkonen (Fin) 74 72, Marc Pendaries (Fra) 72 74, Peter Fowler (Aus) 70 76, Magnus Persson Atlevi (Swe) 70 76, Van Phillips 76 70, Seve Ballesteros (Spa) 70 76, David Higgins 73 73, Neil Cheetham 72 74, Massimo Scarpa (Ita) 72 74. Others - missed cut: 153 - Peter Lawrie 81 72.