Storm shares lead as Maybin storms into contention

Graeme Storm, relieved to discover last week that he did not have swine flu, shares the lead with fellow Englishman Steve Webster after two rounds of the Moravia Silesia Open in the Czech Republic.

Having set himself a target of “three or four under” each day the Hartlepool golfer had his second successive 68 for an eight under total.

“I wasn’t very well for five days after The Open and had a look at the help line for swine flu,” Storm told European Tour radio. “But it was just a stomach upset.

“I had a week off and just did a bit of gym work. I decided not to touch a club and it seems to work for me.

“I thought the scores were not going to be mega-low. I’m not saying my target is going to win, but I think it will be contending right to the death.”

Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin stormed into contention with a six under 66 for the day to stand three shots behind Storm on five under.

Webster followed up his opening 66 with a 70, but moved from second to first because Argentina’s Tino Goya fared 10 strokes worse with a 75.

The former winner of the Italian Open and Portugal Masters came back from a lost ball on the 14th, his fifth.

“It was only 10 yards off the fairway, but it was early and there was no marshall there,” he said. “That’s life.”

Compatriots Sam Little and John Bickerton are only one behind along with Dutchman Maarten Lafeber and Spaniard Ignacio Garrido.

Bristol 21-year-old Chris Wood, third in The Open, has five strokes to make up after a 70.

Wood missed last week’s event in Sweden after hurting his wrist in rough at Turnberry.

“I had an MRI and it was swollen around the joints and ligaments, but the cartilage was fine. That was the worry,” he said.

“I didn’t hit a ball for five or six days and coming here my game felt a bit ropey. People said they were surprised to see me here, but three weeks without playing would have been a bit too much before the US PGA.”

Course designer Miguel Angel Jimenez is one further back, as is 49-year-old South African David Frost in his last event on the circuit before going off to prepare for his Champions Tour debut in the United States in September.