Fri May 16 14:49:43 2008

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Lorenzo-Vera takes Irish Open lead

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Adare, Ireland (Sports Network) - Michael Lorenzo-Vera shot a two-under 70 on Friday to take a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Irish Open.

The 23-year-old Frenchman was at six-under-par 138 for his first career overnight lead on the European Tour.

Germany's Marcel Siem carded a one-under 71 and was alone in second place at five-under 139, with first round co-leader Richard Green (74) and Pablo Larrazabal (70) one shot further back at four-under 140.

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke (69) led a group of six players who were at three-under 141.

Jeev Milkha Singh, who shared the overnight lead with Green, was done in Friday by a trio of early bogeys and a double-bogey on the par-four 13th. He shot a 76 and was in a large group at two-under 142.

Lorenzo-Vera, the top European Challenge Tour player last year, took the clubhouse lead in an early morning group after posting three birdies and a bogey.

He said he was getting used playing at Adare Manor, though he wouldn't commit to saying he was ready to win on the European Tour yet.

"You can't tell that until you have done it and I haven't done it yet," said Lorenzo-Vera. "You know, so many people play well for the first two rounds and fall away after that, so I will try to keep the same game, and we will find out if I am ready to win on Sunday."

Among the Irishmen looking to follow Padraig Harrington's success last year are Clarke and Paul McGinley, who played in the same threesome during the first two rounds.

Clarke carded five birdies and two bogeys for his second-round 69, while McGinley posted the same score with six birdies and three bogeys.

McGinley had five birdies in 11 flawless holes before suffering through a string of bogeys, including one at his last hole that dropped him to two-under 142.

"I was just trying to hang onto him the way he was playing," said Clarke, who was one shot ahead of his playing partner, "and I got a couple of good breaks at the end."

Harrington, the reigning British Open champion, shot a 71 on Friday and was at one-under par overall. Harrington became the first Irishman in 25 years to win the Irish Open when he beat Bradley Dredge in a playoff last year.

Friday's cut line fell at three-over 147, with 68 players moving on to the weekend. David Howell (148), Graeme McDowell (149) and 1999 British Open winner Paul Lawrie (153) all missed the weekend.