Intro:

Ireland's Shane Lowry shoots a six under par round of 65 to take a one shot lead at the halfway stage of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor on Friday (19th September).

Script:

Following heavy overnight thunderstorms, the 2010 course at Celtic Manor was more receptive to 'Target Golf' on Friday for the second round of the Wales Open.

Stephen Gallagher shot a second round 70, one under par but the Scot missed the cut.

The three other members of the European Ryder Cup Team fared rather better and all of them made it to rounds three and four.

Lee Westwood's round of 69 kept the Englishman in the tournament at level par overall.

Thomas Bjorn also returned a 69 and it saw the Dane safely through at two under par, seven shots off the lead.

Of the Ryder Cup quartet, Jamie Donaldson was the best of them, pocketing four birdies in a blemish-free 67.

Italy's Edoardo Molinari carded the round of the day, his tee shot at the par three thirteenth very nearly dropped in for a hole-in-one.

Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts finished with an eagle at the eighteenth for a three under par round of 68, taking him to eight under.

Dutchman Joost Luiten joined him at eight under after carding a two under par 69.

Luiten almost eagled the 18th as well, but had to settle for birdie.

Shane Lowry reached nine under par overall and will take a one shot lead into the weekend.