Lowry run ends but McGinley plays on

Defending champion Shane Lowry missed the cut, Paul McGinley will play over the weekend for the fifth tournament running, while struggling Peter Lawrie is staring at a 25,000km round trip to Australia in the hope of saving his Tour card.

McGinley’s determination not to let the Ryder Cup captaincy to spoil his golf again came to the fore as recorded six birdies in a five-under-par 66 to move to five under in the event on the Oceanico Victoria course.

It left the Dubliner trailing seven shots behind the leading trio of South African Hennie Otto (63) and the English pair of Paul Waring (64) and David Lynn (65,) who head the field by a stroke on 12 under par.