Kim takes the early lead

USPGA : Anthony Kim continued his emergence as a potential American Ryder Cup player when he took the clubhouse lead during …

USPGA: Anthony Kim continued his emergence as a potential American Ryder Cup player when he took the clubhouse lead during the second round of the Wachovia Championship.

Kim closed strongly with a hat-trick of birdies, starting at his 14th hole, to shoot a five-under-par 67 on the demanding Quail Hollow course.

"I feel fortunate to get out with 67," he said after posting a seven-under 137 total, one stroke better than Jim Furyk (67) and Dudley Hart (67), with half the field back in the clubhouse.

CHALLENGE TOUR: Denmark's Mark Haastrup shot a flawless, four-under-par 68 to move one-shot clear of Michael Hoey, Wil Besseling and overnight leader Greig Hutcheon at the halfway mark of the Banque Populaire Moroccan Classic on the European Challenge Tour.

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Haastrup carded four birdies in the first 11 holes to take the lead on eight-under-par 136, with Hoey one back after a 70 that included four birdies.

LET:Gwladys Nocera from France shot a one-under-par 70 to take a stroke lead into the final day of the Ladies Scottish Open.

Having tied for the lead with Maria Boden after an opening 69, the 32-year-old made the best of a sunny day at the Carrick on Loch Lomond to finish on a three-under-par 139 total, ahead of South Korean teenager Amy Yang, who had a 70.

Martina Gillen, despite a brave 75 for 152, missed the cut by one shot, while Rebecca Coakley (159) and amateur Gillian O'Keffee (163) also missed out.

AMATEUR:Robert Cannon, who is hoping to return to the Irish squad after a self-enforced exile, did his cause no harm when he posted a first-round one-under-par 69 to lead the Irish challenge in the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham and St Annes yesterday.

England's Luke Goddard leads the way after a four-under-par 66. Shane Lowry, from Esker Hills, was disappointed with his 72, ruing a dropped shot at the last hole after driving into a bunker.