EUROPEAN TOUR: David Higgins fired a second round 66 to trail Kyron Sullivan by one shot at the halway mark in the Madeira Island Open after bad weather left 78 players to complete their rounds this morning.
Higgins fired six birdies in eight holes to race to the turn in 30 at Santo da Serra, and picked up another shot on the 10th to lie seven-under par for the day.
At 10-under par Higgins had moved into a share of the lead with playing partner Sullivan of Wales.
Sullivan and Higgins were forced to wait for 10 minutes on the 10th tee for the clouds to clear, and although they were able to continue the second round play would not be completed on schedule.
There were to be no further birdies for Higgins on the back nine and a bogey on the 18th meant he had to settle for a 66 and nine-under-par total. Sullivan did birdie the 13th but also bogeyed the last. However, his 70 for 10-under was enough to set the clubhouse target.
EUROPEAN OPEN: The two Ryder Cup captains America's Tom Lehman and Europe's Ian Woosnam have confirmed their participation in this year's Smurfit European Open at the K Club, Straffan, Co Kildare from June 30th to July 3rd, reports Johnny Watterson.
The venue is expected to offer both captains an ideal opportunity to cast their eyes over the course that will stage next year's biennial contest. The Palmer course will host the Ryder Cup from September 22nd-24th, 2006. It will be Lehman's third appearance in the European Open having already finished tied for ninth place, seven shots behind the 1995 winner Bernhard Langer as well as finishing tied for 33rd place in 1996 along with Woosnam.
It will also be the first time the two players have competed against each other since they were announced as Ryder Cup captains.
"Obviously playing the golf course where the Ryder Cup will be staged next year will make this week extra special for me," said Lehman. "But I have always enjoyed my trips to Europe in the past and to Ireland in particular and I'm sure this week will provide me with more memories to treasure." Woosnam has featured in every European Open since 1995 and has missed the cut only once in 2000. In 2001, however, the 47-year-old earned his best finish at the tournament, a 68 final round putting him into a share of second place with Thomas Bjorn and Padraig Harrington, three behind that year's winner Darren Clarke.
LET TOUR: Eleanor Pilgrim of Wales leads at the halfway stage at the Tenerife Open at Costa Adeje following a second-round 68.
On seven-under, Pilgrim was a shot ahead of Ludivine Kreutz, from France, and two clear of a group of three that included England's Georgina Simpson and Italy's Sophie Sandolo.
Ireland's Rebecca Coakley is five back after a 72 while Hazel Kavanagh missed the cut after a disappointing 79.
SHERRY CUP: Ireland are well off the pace after the third round of the Sherry Cup in Sotogrande. Spain hold a four shots lead over Scotland with Spain and Germany nine back in third place.
