Stenson makes slow start in Munich

Henrik Stenson gave encouragement to the chasing pack with a slow start to his second round at the BMW International Open in Munich today.

One ahead after an opening eight-under-par 64, the Swede resumed with a bogey on the 10th and after a birdie on the long next dropped another shot three holes later.

It put him back to seven under and brought England's Gary Boyd, among the day's later starters, into a share of top spot.

Scotland's 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie, who began with a 66, also had a mixed bag over the opening stretch. He bogeyed the 556-yard 11th, but birdied the 13th to return to six under and joint third spot.

English pair Robert Dinwiddie and Richard Finch, and Welshman Bradley Dredge, all went to the turn in 33 to move from two-under to five-under, while David Howell's birdies on the 13th and 16th took him onto the same mark.

Dubliner Peter Lawrie, whose wife recently gave birth to their fourth child and first son, was five-under as well thanks to birdies at the 12th and 13th.

But Sergio Garcia, whose first day 69 gave him hopes of achieving the fourth place finish he needs to have any chance of qualifying for next month's Open off a European Tour mini-money list, was back in 39th place after covering his first six holes in one over.