Darren Clarke moved into a share of the lead on the second day of the Spanish Open but the Tyroneman may reflect on another finish which could have been better.
A four-under par 68 today gave Clarke a nine-under halfway total of 135 to tie with little known Andrew Raitt of Engalnd at the top.
As in yesterday’s round Clarke opened at a blistering pace.It began with a birdie on the second hole, then the 32-year-old went on a run of four birdies from the fifth hole to reach the turn in a five-under 31.
The top ranked player in the field moved to 11-under and the outright lead after another birdie at the 11th but any further progress was to stop there.
One solitary bogey split Clarke’s back nine of pars yesterday, this time round, two bogies at the 12th and 17th and five pars completed his second rounddropping him back to nine-under.
"I did everything I wanted to but it didn't quite come off on the back nine again.I got off to a really good start obviously and I hit the ball really well all the way round the back nine as well, so I was a little bit disappointed to finish with 68," said Clarke.
Robert Karlsson, Jarmo Sandelin and Carl Pettersson made the early running in a three-pronged Swedish attack at the start of the day and finished it in a share of third place on eight-under par 136.
The trio had moved into a share of the lead with the overnight leader Andrew Oldcorn.Sandelin made the most progress by carding a six-under par 66.The 1999 winner compiled no less than eight birdies and the only blemishes were bogies at the 10th and 18th.
Karlsson accrued his halfway eight-under total 136 with a second consecutive 68, while his compatriot Pettersson shot a second round 69.
Oldcorn had a disappointing 73 and dropped back to seven-under to share sixth place with his fellow countryman Andrew Coltart.Coltart moved up the leaderboard with a 68 today.
Meanwhile, Des Smyth consolidated his opening 70 with a level par round for a halfway total 144.The veteran had got to four-under at one stage but a bogey followed by a double bogey on the 16th and 17th - his seventh and eighth - put paid to his advances.
It was a disappointing day for the rest of the Irish contingent.Eamonn Darcy and Ronan Rafferty both shot one-over 73’sto finish with four and five over totals of 148 and 149 respectively. David Higgins shot 76 to finish on a six-over total 150.
Of the Irish players who started in Spain, only Des Smyth and Darren Clarke will be around for the weekend.