McGovern leads Irish challenge

Brendan McGovern leads the Irish challenge in Sardinia at the halfway stage in the Starwood PGA of Europe Championship after rounds of 70 and 75.

His one-over-par total of 145 leaves the Headfort Club pro joint seventh and just six shots behind joint leaders, English men Brian Rimmar and Paul Wesselingh.

Torrential rain last weekend left the course at the Pevero Golf Club on the Costa Smeralda waterlogged but it dried remarkably fast and conditions for the event, which teed off on Tuesday, are now perfect.

The other Irish players taking part are Slade Valley professional John Dignam and Dundalk's Leslie Walker.

Dignam carded rounds of 75 and 74 to go joint 25th while Walker sneaked into the last two days' play on the mark of 152. He carded scores of 78 and 74 to get in among the 44 players who will complete the tournament.

Walker is out first tomorrow morning at 9am along with Simon Wood (England), Dignam tees off at 10.16 along with Italian Luis Gallardo while McGovern, who won the Irish Order of Merit this season, begins his third round at 11.50 in tandem with Gary Donnison from England.