Golf: McGinley halfway leader at Irish PGA

Despite a brave bid by Des Smyth, defending champion Paul McGinley is the

halfway leader in the Smurfit Irish PGA Championship at Castlerock.

McGinley carded a second round 64 to equal the course record for a two shots halfway lead.

The holder had nine birdies on his card without a dropped shot in sight while Smyth made six birdies and an eagle but dropped a stroke at his last hole - the short 9th.

Francis Howley was joint third at Co louth last year and is third on his own now after a 65 while three Irish Region players are one shot further back in joint fourth place at five-under.

Qualifiers (Par 146):

137 - P McGinley (K Club) 73,64;

139 - D Smyth (Unattached) 73,66;

140 - F Howley (Milltown) 75,65;

141 - M Allan (Leopardstown) 72,69; W O'Callaghan (Fernhill) 73,68; M Bannon

(Bangor) 73,68;

142 - J Dignam (Slade Valley) 73,69;

143 - P Walton (Westpoint Fitness Centre) 71,72; N Manchip (Royal Dublin)

75,68; P Russell (Unattached) 72,71;

144 - K Morris (Fota Island) 75,69;

145 - R Burns (Newlands) 74,71; D Mooney (Laganview) 75,70; N Howley (Black

Bush) 75,70; K Grealy (Royal Tara) 74,71; B Kelleher (Ballybunion) 76,69;

146 - B McGovern (Headfort) 77,69; G Burke (Curragh) 74,72; D Byrne

(Hermitage) 75,71;

147 - C Barry (Donabate) 75,72; L Walker (Dundalk) 73,74; D Walker (Foxrock)

75,72; G Robinson (Wexford) 74,73;

148 - M O'Donovan (Harbour Point) 75,73; F Dwyer (Celbridge) 77,71; H

O'Neill (Connemara) 76,72; G Chambers (Killymoon) 78,70; P Leonard (Fintona)

79,69; J Bolger (Kilkenny) 77,71;

149 - A Schweppe (Malahide) 77,72; G Loughrey (Knockbracken) 76,73; J Langan

(Milltown) 78,71; J Murray (Malahide) 77,72; S Thornton (Royal Co Down)

76,73; E Doyle (Heath) 77,72; R Hutton (Cliftonville) 74,75;

150 - J Kelly (The Ward) 81,69; A Johnston (Ballyclare) 75,75; N Callan

(City of Derry) 75,75; P Stevenson (Portadown) 74,76; E Tracey (Enniscrone)

77,73; S Hamill (Lisburn) 76,74;

151 - J Kinsella (Skerries) 77,74; D McFarlane (East Cork) 76,75; J Dwyer

(Ashbourne) 79,72; G Fairweather (Knock) 77,74; JP Dolan (Charleville)

77,74; J Murray (Elm Green) 73,78; J Heggarty (Spawell) 78,73;

152 - T Mullaly (Royal Portrush) 81,71; C Smyth (Dundalk) 76,76; P Farrell

(Ardglass) 79,73; JP Noonan (Unattached) 80,72; J Greenaway (Portadown)

79,73; P McGuirk (Co Louth) 76,76; G Madden (Galway DR) 78,74; Z Rouiller

(Spawell) 78,74;