GOLF DIGEST:EUROPEAN TOUR: Sweden's Pelle Edberg was in a league of his own with a second-round 64 at the European Tour event in cold and windy Majorca yesterday.
It brought him into the joint lead with South African James Kingston, who was able to add only a level-par 70 to his pace-setting opening 65.
They were three clear of the field at the halfway stage of the Iberdrola Open Cala Millor Mallorca, with Welshman Stuart Manley’s 68 bringing him into a tie for third on two under with Spaniards Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Alejandro Canizares.
But Gary Murphy, the leading Irishman after day one, fired a nightmare nine-over-par 79, which included three double bogeys and a triple, to crash down the field and miss the cut
Six months after losing his Tour card and then failing to win it back at the qualifying school, Edberg has had only limited opportunities on the circuit this season.
But the 31-year-old, known for his colourful headbands, has already recorded one top-10 finish and now a first victory is in his sights at Pula after the joint lowest round of his career.
Edberg, out in 32 before picking up further shots on the fifth, sixth and eighth, was on the last fairway when a thunderstorm halted play for over two hours.
At the end of the day only seven players were under par.
MALLORCA OPEN (at Son Severa) – Leading second round scores(British unless stated) 135– Pelle Edberg (Swe) 71 64 138– Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 68 70, Stuart Manley 70 68 139– Andrew Marshall 70 69 140– Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 71 69 141– Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 73 68, Marco Ruiz (Par) 70 71, Scott Hend (Aus) 72 69, Mark F Haastrup (Den) 72 69, Branden Grace (Rsa) 72 69, Manuel Quiros (Spa) 70 71. Irish: 144– Colm Moriarty 74 70. 145– Damien McGrane 74 71. 146– Paul McGinley 75 71. 147– Gary Murphy 68 79.
US TOUR:Yesterday's play at the Valero Texas Open was cancelled because of heavy rain and a tornado warning. An inspection was due for 2pm local time, but thunderstorms meant play never got under way.
SENIORS TOUR:Bill Longmuir produced another stunning run of birdies to win the Handa Senior Masters by a commanding seven strokes and capture his eighth European Senior Tour title.
The Scot shot a remarkable nine-under-par final-round 66 for a superb wire-to-wire victory to deny Order of Merit leader Boonchu Ruangkit a record-equalling fourth consecutive Senior Tour win.
Longmuir had started the final round at Stapleford Park, in Leicestershire, with a four-stroke advantage over Ruangkit and John Harrison, and he showed absolutely no signs of nerves in coasting to victory, opening with a birdie at the first.
Des Smyth closed with a three-under 70 to finish in a tie for fifth on 11 under par.
Longmuir’s win secured him a place in the US Senior PGA Championship in a fortnight.
WOMEN'S TOUR:Sweden's Linda Wessberg leads the German Open at the halfway stage after a career-best 64 in the second round.
The 29-year-old’s eight-under-par round left her 10 under, one ahead of England’s Melissa Reid with Lee-Ann Pace of South Africa and Holland’s Christel Boeljon two shots further back on seven under.
Rebecca Coakley fired a fine three-under-par 69 to move into a share of fifth place on four under.
Alison Walshe is on one under after a 71, while Hazel Kavanagh is a shot back after a 72.
