McGinley battles back

Ryder Cup ace Paul McGinley was battling to make the cut at the TCL Classic in Hainan after moving to three under par during his second round at the Yalong Bay Golf Club today.

McGinley, who finished second in 2005 after losing a sudden death play-off to Paul Casey, made the turn in 35 despite dropping a shot at the long 480-yard par four second following his opening round 72.

He quickly collected two birdies in the first three holes of his back nine to take a step closer to booking his place in the weekend’s action with the cut expected to be set at four under par.

England’s Simon Hurd was also three under after nine as the St Albans born golfer reached the turn in 34, while compatriot Richard Bland was a further shot back with eight to play.

Ryder Cup-winning captain Ian Woosnam is set to fall short after carding a second round one under par 71 following his opening round 72.

Woosnam, starting on the back nine, reached the turn in 37 after conceding two bogeys before coming home in 34 after dropping a shot at the par four eight, his 17th.

Liverpool’s Nick Dougherty fired a second-round six-under-par 66 to leap up the leaderboard, but still trails clubhouse leader Chapchai Nirat by eight shots.

Dougherty, who carded an opening-round 69, fired five birdies to reach the turn in 31 after staring on the back nine.

He failed to produce the same form on the front nine and came home in 35 after dropping a shot at the par-four fourth, his 13th.

“There’s a lot of birdies out there and every time you don’t make one you feel you’ve given up a good opportunity,” said Dougherty.

“Sixty-six is a good score but I feel I’ve left a few out there on the back nine. I was nine-under for the tournament after 10 holes, so to finish on that is a little disappointing, especially when the leader is pushing on like he is.

“Even so, there’s two rounds to go and hopefully he won’t get to much past 17-under.”

Spanish duo Carl Suneson and Carlos Rodiles were in the clubhouse on 10 under and were joined by Taiwan’s Lu Weh The, who was one under with four to play, and Argentina’s Rafael Echenque, who was two under with 11 to play in his second round.

Dougherty is joined on nine under by compatriots Miles Tunnicliff and James Heath.

Heath, who opened yesterday with a level-par 72, reeled off four birdies in his opening holes as the 23-year-old reached the turn in 30 after starting on the back nine.

He collected four birdies on the way home but dropped a shot at the sixth, his 15th.

“I played solid, I didn’t really do much differently between round one and round two but there is nine shots difference,” Heath said.

“I had a bit of momentum and I just carried it forward. When you start like that, before you even think about the round you are already four under. Then you birdie a few pars fives and suddenly it’s that easy.”

Tunnicliff started the day at two under but an eagle at the par five 13th helped him card a second-round 65.

Lee Westwood remained at six under with six to play alongside Simon Griffiths and Mark Pilkington, with Barry Lane and Oliver Fisher a further shot back.