Harrington still not sparkling

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON remains very much on course to complete a hat-trick of victories in the Ladbrokes.com Irish Professional Championship at the European Club but there is still no reassurance his game has returned to what it needs to be to make him a contender in next week’s Open Championship at Turnberry.

Harrington shot 70 to move to four under par at the halfway stage and a stroke ahead of his nearest rival, Leslie Walker, the club pro at Dundalk.

Walker, who led after Thursday’s first round on 67, added a roller-coaster 72 yesterday and in turn is one clear of former amateur international Richard Kilpatrick with Simon Thornton, who had a best of the day 67, fourth on even par.