Irish pair Gareth Maybin and Michael Hoey share the lead at the halfway stage of the World Cup qualifying tournament in Aruba.

Three clear after a fourball 62, the two added only a 73 in the foursomes and were caught by Italian brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari.

Five teams go through to the World Cup in China in November. Ireland were forced to qualify when British Open champion Padraig Harrington declared himself unavailable and Maybin and

Hoey were called in when Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and others all turned down the event in the Caribbean.

Second round totals:

135 - Italy 66 69, Ireland 62 73.

137 - Puerto Rica 67 70, Paraguay 66 71, Guatemala 65 72.

138 - Bermuda 67 71.

139 - Venezuela 68 71.

141 - Brazil 69 72.

142 - Czech Republic 70 72, Colombia 69 73.

143 - Jamaica 69 74, Chile 68 75, Bahamas 67 76.

146 - Mexico 68 78. 147 - Peru 69 78, Ecuador 70 78.

152 - El Salvador 68 84.

169 - Serbia 80 89.