Portugal Masters:STUART MANLEY, a schoolboy soccer starlet who had a trial with Manchester United, is about to find out how good a golfer he is.
The 29-year-old from Mountain Ash in Wales has never had a top 10 finish on the European Tour since turning professional in 2003, but at halfway in the Portugal Masters he is 11 under par and one ahead of Spaniard, Alvaro Quiros.
From the depths of 174th on the Order of Merit and 575th in the world, Manley followed up his opening 65 - the lowest round of his Tour career - with a 68 yesterday.
While Colin Montgomerie headed home after missing his fourth cut in his last five starts and for the ninth time this season, Manley looked ahead to the test that he realises the final 36 holes will be. "I know what I've got to do," said the 2003 Walker Cup hero, who has his wife, brother, parents and a couple of friends in Vilamoura cheering him on.
"I just have to commit really. If the shots don't come off they don't come off, but as long as I commit and go out there and give myself a chance that's all I can ask for."
Winning the first prize of almost €515,000 is the aim, of course, but third place would be a great result. It is worth almost €190,000 and, having earned less than €77,000 from his previous 31 events this year, could save him from a fifth trip to the Tour qualifying school.
Not that he is aware of the exact position there. Asked if he had studied the money list Manley shook his head and replied: "Best not to. I'd get depressed." Leader by one overnight, he had been overtaken by the time he reached the turn in 36 on his return to the Oceanico Victoria course.
But then came a chip-in par on the 11th, a four-iron to six feet for an eagle at the 547-yard next and birdies at the 15th and 16th.
His change of fortunes follows a kick up the rear from coach Pete Cowen two weeks ago. "It wasn't a rollicking, just a bit of a telling off. He said I should be spending four hours on my short game and one hour on the long game.
"I was spending more time perfecting my swing. You don't really need to do that - if you can perfect your short game you can save a lot more shots."
Former Open champion Paul Lawrie is hoping this will be the weekend when he returns to winning ways. Less than three months away from his 40th birthday Lawrie, whose last success was the 2002 Wales Open, had a seven-birdie 65 to move to nine under and joint third with Swede Magnus Carlsson.
"I've been playing good golf for a while, but holed a few putts today," said the Scot. "It's disappointing obviously to be 96th on the Order of Merit - I'm a better player than that - but you never realise how hard the game is until you struggle with the putter."
Order of Merit leader Robert Karlsson could yet record his third successive victory, a 67 lifting him from 17th to joint fifth on eight under. Lee Westwood, third in the standings, matched that round to stay three behind the Swede, but after running up a seven at the 17th in his opening 72 he went in the lake there again on his return and took six. " I was six under and should have been nine or 10 under," he said.
Rory McIlroy leads the Irish challenge and is tied for 13th place following a second successive 69.
Darren Clarke climbed to five under, but then double-bogeyed the last for a 69 and a three-under total of 141. He is joined on that total by Peter Lawrie (69) and Graeme McDowell (74). Gary Murphy is one-under following his 74 but Damien McGrane missed the cut following a round of 73 for a four-over tally of 148.
