Clarke in the hunt for second European Open win

Darren Clarke is the best placed of the Irish competitors heading into the third round of the Smurfit Kappa European Open at the K Club in Co Kildare.

The Ulsterman is on his own on seven under par, one stroke behind Stephen Dodd of Wales.

Clarke, who won the event in 2001, carded six birdies and two bogeys to add a 68 to his opening round 69.

A second win would secure the 37-year-old’s Ryder Cup place for this September but the northerner is unsure whether he would be available to compete due to his wife’s continuing battle with cancer.

"Heather is struggling a lot at the minute," said Clarke "And even if I was in the Ryder Cup team I don't know that I would be able to play in it."

Welshman Bradley Dredge still leads on nine under going into the weekend after shooting a round of 70 yesterday.

Three players Jeev Milka Singh, Anthony Wall and Soren Kjeldsen are tied on six under par.

Stephen Browne is four under with Damien McGrane one stroke further back.

Padraig Harrington, defending champion Kenneth Ferrie and Lee Westwood were relieved just to make the halfway cut on one over.

Michael Campbell, European Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam, Spain's Miguel Angel Jiminez and England's Paul Broadhurst however all missed the cut, which was set at two over.

However, Kerryman David Higgins, Dubliner Paul McGinley and Simon Thornton just made the cut on +2.