Golf: Struver's new clubs work wonders

Sven Struver, having missed six successive cuts and then failed to qualify for last week's Open championship, found form at last when he took a three- shot lead after two rounds of the Dutch Open at Hilversum yesterday.

The German shot a superb 64 on a wet and windy day for an 11-under-par 36 holes aggregate of 131 - to lead David Gilford, Robert Coles and the South African Wayne Westner by three strokes.

Struver had six birdies and an eagle three at the fourth on his card and said he was not altogether surprised. "I changed my clubs after shooting an 84 in the first round of the French Open four weeks ago and since then I have been playing better and better," he said. "I shot two rounds under par in the Open qualifying last week and though I didn't make it to Troon I knew I was back on the right road."

Struver was delighted but no more than Sam Torrance, who is 11 shots behind the German after a second-round 68 for a level par aggregate of 142.

Torrance, who almost withdrew from the tournament yesterday because of strained muscles just below his shoulders, played the last seven holes in four under par to make the halfway cut.