Park expands as Rose wilts

David Park and Justin Rose played together in the Moroccan Open again yesterday yet they were a million miles apart in terms of performance.

While Welshman Park stormed to the top of the leaderboard after the second round with an eight-under-par aggregate total of 136, the English Rose wilted in the Agadir desert and crashed out with a 17-over-par total of 161 for his two rounds.

That is a staggering difference of 25 shots between the two young former Walker Cup friends. While Park heads into the weekend flying high, two shots clear of the field, Rose has another weekend off to reflect on his 21st successive missed cut on the European Tour since he turned professional after last year's Open.

The cut was plus two, so Hampshire's Rose missed it by 15 shots.

He was joined by three Irishmen, Raymond Burns (75 75), Francis Howley (80 74) and Gary Murphy (81 75), all of whom missed the opportunity of this weakened field to grab a few pounds in the battle to keep their tour card.

But Philip Walton, who also has yet to get his season in gear, added a 70 to his opening 72 to lie just six shots off the pace.

Rose (18), would do well to take a leaf out of 24-year-old Park's book. The Hereford-based Challenge Tour regular was very composed and focused during a round which was perfect except for a dropped shot on the final hole.