McGinley to the fore as Murphy sparkles

THE holder and hot favourite Paul McGinley has cruised into the lead at the halfway stage of the Smurfit IPGA Championship at Adare Manor.

But he is still a long way from clinching the title for a fourth time.

McGinley yesterday benefited from the much improved afternoon weather to compile a tidy 68 to finish five under par and one ahead of Gary Murphy who had battled through heavy rain in the morning to return a magnificent course record of 66.