Lowry's strokes paint compelling picture

The failure of Padraig Harrington to survive the halfway cut at The 3 Irish Open left a hole to be filled when the tournament resumed at Baltray today.

But there was a ready-made replacement right at the top of the leaderboard - 22-year-old amateur Shane Lowry.

In his very first European Tour event the plus-five handicapper from Co. Offaly was assured of a place in the record books whatever happened over the closing 36 holes.

Lowry shot an incredible 62 yesterday. That equalled the lowest score ever by an amateur on the circuit.

His 15-under-par aggregate was a record for the tournament after two rounds and he was only the second amateur to lead a Tour event at halfway.

“It’s like a dream really – when do I wake up?” he said after taking a two-stroke lead over England’s Robert Rock and Welshman Jamie Donaldson.

“This is as good as I can ask for and it’s hard not to think about winning now, but I’m just going to go out and play as best I can.”

The hardest part for surprise front-runners is often how long they have to think about it before teeing off again.

But because of a forecast of strong winds this afternoon Lowry’s start time was 9.15am.

And it is not as if the Walker Cup squad member, son of a famous Gaelic footballer, is too young to remember other amateurs going all the way and collecting Tour titles.

New Zealander Danny Lee did it at February’s Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth and two years ago Spaniard Pablo Martin won the Portuguese Open.

They have also shone in recent majors. England’s Chris Wood was fifth at The Open last year and at 18 Rory McIlroy was third after the opening round the previous summer.

“Obviously it gives you inspiration in trying to think I’m good enough,” added Lowry.

“I played a practice round with Rory the other day. He’s doing unbelievably well for himself at such a young age and I wouldn’t put myself in the same league at this stage.”

Now in the world’s top 20, McIlroy is among those chasing Lowry in Baltray this weekend – in his case he resumed eight behind.

For fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell the deficit was nine, but it was remarkable he was still in the tournament. After starting with a 77 McDowell broke the day-old course record by two with a staggering 61.

Harrington improved five strokes on his opening 73, but although it was the Open and US PGA champion’s first sub-par score in 11 rounds he still bowed out of what he calls “my fifth major” by one.

The cut came at four under, a tournament record by two.