Sugai takes firm grip on British Open

Noboru Sugai from Japan has taken a firm grip on the MasterCard British Seniors' Open Championship at Royal County Down.

The 53-year-old Japanese, returned his second 67 of the tournament to be eight-under-par at the halfway stage and four shots clear of the field.

Sugai went four-under for the day after 13 holes but then suffered double-bogey six at the 15th before regaining the lost ground with a birdie-birdie finish, holing puts of 20 and seven feet.

Four shots back is Scot John Chillas who carded a second round 69 and at three-under-par are tournament favourite Tom Watson and Canadian John Irwin.

Five-times Open Champion Watson handed in a bogey-free two-under-69.

Best of the Irish is twice winner Christy O'Connor - a 70 for him to be one-over-par.

Qualifying for the weekend is Arthur Pierse, the former Walker Cup player from Tipperary who finished with a hat-trick of birdies to safely make the cut at seven-over-par. Pierse won the Silver Medal as leading amateur in the championship last year.