Roe grabs share of lead

Mark Roe, put out of the game by a blow to the head at the Forest of Arden seven years ago, continued to thoroughly enjoy his return to the course.

The 39-year-old moved into a share of the second-round lead in the Compass Group English Open as he continued his search for a first win in eight years.

Birdies at the 15th, 17th and first after he resumed on the back nine took Roe to seven under par and alongside Welsh Ryder Cup player Phillip Price, Darren Prosser, David Drysdale and Thursday's pacesetters Darren Clarke and Australian Jarrod Moseley.

Standing on the eighth tee in a pro-am in 1995 Roe was felled by a shot from an amateur.

"For five months I couldn't see straight and I had headaches for a lot longer," he said.

"I suppose every time I've stood on that tee since then I tell the story."

It is the not the only setback Roe has suffered in his career. He returned to the tour in March last year after 20 months out with a hand injury - caused when he grabbed the collar of his dog.

Round in a four-under 68 yesterday, Price birdied two of his first three holes in the damp and miserable early conditions and after a bogey on the 13th, his fourth, had further birdies at the 16th and sixth.

Former Walker Cup amateur Prosser - no longer a member of the tour, but attached to a local par three course and driving range - went to the turn in 32, while Drysdale was only one worse than that.

Justin Rose, winner of his fourth title of the season at Woburn, was only one behind with four to play, while David Howell, in his first tournament for three months after breaking his arm when he fell over while jogging, one further back.

However, Salisbury's Andy Beal, invited to play six months after his left eye was removed because of cancer, stood two over par after 11 holes and needed to find three or even four birdies to make the halfway cut.

Roe remained seven under with two to go, but 27-year-old Drysdale, from Dunbar, moved to nine under with birdies at the second and third and led by one from Price.