Co-leader Clarke unhappy over rain decision

Darren Clarke still shared the lead at the end of the second day of the Compass Group English Open at the Forest of Arden today.

But the Ulsterman, winner of the title two of the last three years, thought he may well have been three shots clear of Scottish rookie David Drysdale but for a decision by officials.

Rain halted play for just under an hour in mid-afternoon, but all the players affected were kept on the course throughout the stoppage.

‘‘I didn’t think it was right,’’ said Clarke after posting a 70 to match Drysdale’s nineunder-par halfway total of 135.

‘‘I thought they could have called us in. We were on the 10th fairway and it was raining for the majority of the time.

‘‘I wasted probably three shots when we resumed and I put that down mainly to standing around and not having the opportunity to go and hit a few balls and get warmed up again. I won’t be having words, but it’s just disappointing.

‘‘I understand what they were trying to do - get everybody finished this evening - but it wasn’t right.’’

However, there was good news waiting for Clarke after he had spoken.

He has been drawn with world number one Tiger Woods in the first two rounds of the United States Open in New York next week and commented: ‘‘That’s fantastic - a great draw.

‘‘Tiger’s the best player in the world and a great guy to play with.’’

Clarke’s best performance in golf was when he beat Woods head-to-head in the final of the world match play championship in California two years ago.

Out in 33, he resumed with a bogey five and after that mixed two birdies with two more bogeys, failing to get up and down from sand at the last.

Drysdale made it through the tour school at the fifth attempt last November and has already had two top-10 finishes.

The 27-year-old from Dunbar said: ‘‘The first thing is to try and get enough money to keep my card, but there are other things I’m looking at on top of that because I’ve now had a few good results.’’

Welsh Ryder Cup player Phillip Price, disappointed to finish third in the British Masters last week after leading with a round to play, is well placed again at eight under.

But only one further back is Justin Rose, who came charging past him to win at Woburn with two closing rounds of 65.

Alongside Rose is Sheffield’s Mark Roe, who on the same course in 1995 was put out of the game when a shot from an amateur in a pro-am struck him on the head, and also Midlander Darren Prosser.

The Dudley golfer had to change his plans for the weekend after becoming a surprise contender for the £133,330 first prize.

The 33-year-old, who has never held a European tour card and has suffered from the energy-sagging ME virus, teaches at the nearby Three Hammers driving range and par three complex, but he was only too happy to call off the junior classes he had booked.

‘‘My biggest-ever cheque is £6,000 and my main goals here were to have a good time and see if I could make the cut,’’ he said after returning a 68 for a seven-under-par halfway total of 137.

Prosser’s name should not be totally unfamiliar to British golf followers. He was a member of the first Walker Cup side to win on American soil in 1989, but after partnering Russell Claydon on the first morning became too ill to take any further part.

Prosser turned professional after that, but has never survived the tour qualifying school and in the last 13 years has made only 21 appearances on the circuit and has yet to record a finish inside the top 20.

He qualified for the English Open off the regional Order of Merit and rates his golf in the first 36 holes ‘‘probably the best of my career.’’

His only mistake came on the 211-yard last when he also failed to save par from the sand.

‘‘Maybe not being in this situation before I just tried to protect it a little bit,’’ added Prosser. ‘‘It was also raining and I rushed it. I think the guys on the scoreboard were ducking.

‘‘Obviously I’ve played well in smaller tournaments and pro-ams, but the European tour is a bit different.’’

Prosser would accept any finish in the top 10 because that would guarantee him a start in the next tour event. At the moment he does not have another all year.

Salisbury’s Andrew Beal, playing his first tournament since his left eye was removed six months ago because of cancer, failed to make the cut on two over.

But US Open-bound David Howell, returning from three months out with a broken arm suffered when he fell while jogging, made it through on two under.