Today's other stories in brief

Lowry has pep back in his step

DEFENDING champion Shane Lowry used a pep talk from his coach Neil Manchip to bounce back with a fine 65 to move to three under and reignite his title defence.

“I couldn’t put my finger on what happened (on Thursday). I just didn’t feel myself on the course. A lot of things were upsetting me, and I wasn’t in great form,” said Lowry

Lowry improved by nine shots on his first round effort, with a round that produced many an Offaly roar from his travelling army of fans. The loudest came with a chip-in birdie on the 17th which brought the 23-year-old very much back into the equation heading into the weekend.

“I am proud of myself, the character I showed on the golf course . . . I went out there, put my head down and enjoyed myself. I was a bit chirpy and laughing and joking in between shots and that’s the way I normally am. Hopefully I can push it on towards the weekend now and post a low number.”

McDowell’s late birthday present

GRAEME McDowell got the birthday present he wanted most when he ran in a 15-footer for birdie on the 18th to survive into the weekend on the cut mark. “I just putted abysmally the last two days, kind of similar to how I putted at St Andrews. I need to have a look at that and see what’s going on,” said G-Mac, who celebrated his 31st birthday yesterday.

Pablo snaps but still in for wedge

WHAT’S that old adage about a workman blaming his tools? Pablo Martin took out his frustration on the three wedges – a Nike 52-degree, a 56-degree and a 58-degree – in his bag by breaking the shafts of each of them as he finished bogey-bogey.

Killarney club professional David Keating was given the task of putting new shafts onto the clubs after it transpired the Spaniard – winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa at the start of the season – had actually survived the cut.

Killeen claims two dirty dozens

BEAUTY is in the eye of the beholder, but Englishman Jamie Elson could be forgiven if he detested the sight of the picturesque Par 3 sixth hole. The ex-Walker Cup player put four balls into the water on the hole en route to a horrendous 12 – nine strokes over its par – on the short hole.

Elson wasn’t alone in running up a dirty dozen. South African Hennie Otto also took 12 strokes to negotiate a hole in his round, at the Par 5 seventh. He hit four shots over the water into scrubland. Who said the Killeen Course was too easy?