Vancsik leads by two in Portugal, where Clarke misses cut  VILAMOURA, Portugal (AP) -- Daniel Vancsik of Argentina overcame an opening-hole bogey to shoot a 6-under 66 Friday and take a two-stroke lead midway through the Portugal Masters on the European Tour.
Vancsik, who led for the first three rounds of the Madrid Open last week before a quintuple-bogey 9 cost him any chance at the title, took a bogey 5 at the 446-yard No. 1 but then scattered seven birdies over the final 16 holes to finish two rounds at 14-under 130. Four golfers were a shot back: Martin Erlandsson (68), Ross Fisher (64), Alvaro Quiros (66) and Steve Webster (66). "It was difficult but I talked a lot with my sports psychologist before coming here and he told me to relax and just to try and forget about what happened and look forward rather than backward," Vancsik said. "I can't do anything about last week but I can do something about this week." Martin Kaymer (72) and Charl Schwartzel (67) were another stroke back while Lee Westwood shot a 69 to lead a trio four shots behind the Argentine. Darren Clarke, 129th on the European Tour order of merit, shot 73 to finish 1-under 143, missing the cut by two strokes. "I actually hit the ball lovely these two days, but I'm just not making anything or getting any momentum going," Clarke said. "I'm not going to keep on moaning, though." Clarke's previous lowest finish on the European Tour money list 112th in 1991 -- his rookie season. Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. |
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