Golf: Ballesteros makes a move on Gilford

SEVE BALLESTEROS hit a round of 64, eight under par, to move into contention in the Italian Open at Modena yesterday, taking him to 10 under after the second round, three behind the leader David Gilford, who had a 66 to go with his first-round 65.

Ballesteros was far from elated by his performance. 'I can do better,' he said. 'I am not hitting the ball the way I want but 64 is not a bad round. But you must remember the golf course is quite easy. There are not too many difficulties out there.'

Ballesteros owed his eight birdies mainly to his approach shots and putting. Though he sank one putt of 25 feet at the second, most of his other putts were much shorter because of the precision of his irons.

Gilford, who has already won the Moroccan and Portuguese Opens this year, had six birdies and an eagle in his round but also a double-bogey six at the 381-yard fifth, where he missed the green, had a poor chip and then took three from the edge.

That was his 14th hole of the day - he started at the 10th - but he showed superb temperament by going birdie, eagle, par, birdie after his double bogey. His eagle at the 499-yard seventh was gained with a drive, a two- iron and an eight-foot putt.

Steve Richardson moved into joint second place with Ballesteros at 10 under despite a double-bogey seven at the 18th. Richardson, who had begun the day at seven under, had five birdies in his second round but sank nothing longer than 18 feet.