GOLF TOUR NEWS: US TOUR: Johnson Wagner shot a three-under-par 69 to grab a three-stroke lead midway through the second round of the Houston Open yesterday.
Wagner, co-leader overnight with holder Adam Scott of Australia after both fired course record 63s at Redstone Golf Club on Thursday, offset two bogeys with five birdies to finish on 12-under-par 132.
World number five Scott, one of the late starters, was eight under through three holes after bogeying the second.
Mathew Goggin further boosted the Australian challenge with an eight-under 64 for 135, sharing second place in the clubhouse with American Charley Hoffman (70). Goggin had two eagles on the front nine after holing his second shot at the par-four fifth and taking a three at the par-five eighth.
American Chad Campbell also returned a 64 for a seven-under tally of 137. Jose Maria Olazabal posted a 70 for 139 as the Spaniard bids to get his game ready for next week's US Masters, a tournament he has won twice.
LET TOUR: England's Trish Johnson and Rebecca Hudson maintained a one-stroke lead after the second day of the VCI European Ladies Golf Cup at La Sella Golf Resort near Alicante.
Having carried a one shot lead into yesterday's foursomes, the pair ground out a two-under-par 70 in tricky winds.
The score tied for the best of the day with Belgium and Russia. England finished on 10-under-par 134 in total, with Belgium's Lara Tadiotto and Ellen Smets their closest challengers on nine-under-par 135.
"The wind was the opposite way round and very strong today. It made the approaches into some of the holes interesting," said Hudson.
Johnson added: "It probably could have been better to be fair but we played some exceptional golf today from tee to green.
The German team of Martina Eberl and Anja Monke remained in third position on five-under-par after a 73.
Ireland's team of Rebecca Coakley and Martina Gillen lost ground on the leaders when shooting a 76 for 143.
Spain on 291 have an eight shots lead over Wales with Sweden third on 302 while Carlota Gigandia on 143 leads the individual by four shots from Caroline Hedwell of Sweden.
AMATEUR: Shane Lowry shot a best-of-the-day 67 to move into third place in the European Nations Cup individual event at Sotogrande. Lowry is just one behind pace setters Nicklas Glans from Sweden and Benjamin Hebert from France.
Glans added a second round 68 for a halfway total of 139 while Hebert shot 72. Niall Kearney is tied for 17th place after adding a 73 for 147, Paul Cutler showed better from in shooting 71 for 150 while Cian Curley fired a 74 for 151. Sweden on 422 have an 11-shot advantage over Scotland and Germany in the team event with Ireland 13 shots off the pace on 435.
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