DAVID HIGGINS is set to make a name for himself and secure his future in the Austrian Open at Litschau this weekend. The 23 year old Waterville professional shot a second round 67 yesterday and it earned him a share of second place with Italian Massimo Scarpa, just two shots behind new leader Juan Carlos Pinero.

The Spaniard, 31, younger brother of Ryder Cup player Manuel, and like Higgins, a graduate of last November's European Tour school, followed his opening 65 with 66, to reach 13 under par.

The ambidextrous Scarpa who carries a left handed sand wedge and nine iron in his bag, scored 65, 68.

Five British golfers, including first round leader, Scott Watson, are on 134, just ahead of the group that includes Barry Lane, the Ryder Cup player who rejected an invitation to the USPGA Championship in order to play in this tournament.

Paul McGinley with a splendid 66, Raymond Burns, and Konan Rafferty also qualified, but Milltown's Francis Howley fell outside the three under par, halfway cut by taking 74 for 145.

The recuperative work that Higgins undertook with elder brother Brian after last week's failure in Sweden has proved of immense value to the former Irish amateur champion this week. His opening 66 was a first class effort, and he made a confident start to his second tour of the undulating park land course.

Three birdies in the first four holes got him moving swiftly thanks to a hot putter with which he converted chances from 10 and eight feet at the first and third, then from 15 feet for a two at the fourth.

His only blemish was a three putt from long range at the eighth, but Higgins responded with birdies at the long 11th and 16th after excellent chips. He then rolled home a 20 foot birdie chance at the short 17th.

Higgins felt it could have been even better. "I got a great start he said. "But then I rushed my third shot to the long fifth, after a group had been called through missed from inside a yard at the next and then had those three putts.

"But I am playing well and I would be looking forward to the weekend, even more if the wind would only blow. We have had two still days and the scoring looks as though it will again be low. But I have got as good a chance as anyone."

Higgins is one shot better off than his under par 64, 70 halfway performance at the BMW Open in Munich in June where he won £27,000 the bulk of his prize money to date. He was third there and if he can repeat that performance here he will be sure of his Tour card for next season.

McGinley, a strong candidate for a first win when he arrived fresh from being 14th in the British Open at Lytham, shrugged off his poor putting form on the first day to collect seven birdies and improve to a five under par 139 alongside Burns with whom he will play today.

He started at the 10th and had birdies at the 11th and 14th, the latter from 20 feet, and turned in 34 thanks to a superb green side chip to five feet to save par at the 17th.

But when he was much too strong with his pitch to the second, taking three to get down from over the green, he was only one under par and in danger.

McGinley was angry with him self and that spurred him to a volley of four birdies in the last seven holes. He climaxed an inward 22, with a swooping 30 foot birdie at the ninth.

He counted only 26 putts against 36 on the first day. "Like David I wish the wind would get up because it is just a putting contest at the moment," said the Dubliner. "I am eight behind the leader, so I need at least two more rounds like that. A French Open type 63 would be just perfect."

Burns had 71 which included six birdies but he shipped strokes at regular intervals and a bad drive at the 10th, which went out of bounds, cost him a double bogie. "I had a chance to shoot another 68 but did not take it," he commented.

Rafferty was round in an error free 69, to scramble in on the exact qualifying mark.

Big danger to Higgins and the other novice players is the vastly experienced Lane who believes he has fully justified his decision to skip the trip to Kentucky. "This is exactly why I stayed here I play relaxed golf and work hard on my game," he said, after the flawless 66 that took him within striking distance of his first title for three seasons.