Ireland's Darren Clarke and Philip Price of Wales are tied for the Smurfit European Open lead following today's second round at the K Club.
Clarke spoke with coach Butch Harmon last night and the trans-Atlantic called appeared to pay dividends as he carded a second round 68 and shares the top spot alongside fellow Ryder Cup player Philip Price on nine under.
Apart from a bogey at the 17th, for the second day running, Clarke managed five birdies, as the leading duo hold a one shot lead over Scotland's Alastair Forsyth in third and South African teenager Charl Schwartzel who broke the North course record today with an eight-under-par 64.
Pre-tournament favourite Padraig Harrington had to hole a 20-foot birdie putt from just off the green at the last to be certain of surviving the halfway cut on two over. He shot 73.
Grame McDowell and Gary Murphy are next best of the Irish - both sit seven shots off the lead. McDowell recorded a mixed card with three birdies and four bogeys for a one over 73.
Murphy endured a nightmare finish to his round of 75. The Kilkenny man had been in contention following yesterday's 67 but bogeys at the 14th and 15th and a double bogey seven at the par five 18th dropped him back to two under.
Joint first round leader Alastair Forsyth would have been nine under as well but for a closing bogey while 49-year-old Zimbabwean Mark McNulty got to the same mark before bogeying two of his last four holes.
Colin Montgomerie, handily-placed at four under overnight, had a bizarre first seven holes of four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey. But he followed that with 10 pars and a closing birdie for a 71 and sits just four off the lead.
Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley is still in contention on one under after a 73. He is joined on that mark by compatriot Damien McGrane who fired a level par 72.
Ireland's Peter Lawrie (+4), Brendan McGovern (+6), Philip Walton (+6), Damian Mooney (+7), John Dwyer (+7), Jimmy Heggarty (+8), Jimmy Bolger (+11) and John McHenry (+15) all missed the cut and will not be around for the weekend.