Leaders find inspiration in feminine viewpoint

Golf

Jarmo Sandelin, of Sweden, and the Englishman Paul Lyons continued their bids for the Madeira Island Open title yesterday thanks to the help of a feminine viewpoint around the course.

Sandelin, last season's rookie of the year, hit a 67 to take an early half-way lead on the five-under-par total of 139. Lyons, playing only his fourth Tour event, added a 72 to his opening 68 to move into joint second.

Sandelin's caddie is his girlfriend, Linda, and he said: "It was her fault I bogeyed the fifth hole because she told me to hit a four-iron and I needed more, but she got it right on both the sixth and ninth."

For his part Lyons, joint overnight leader with Ross McFarlane, praised his caddie, a 17-year-old local girl.

"Her brother [Duarte Freitas] is playing in the tournament and she's spectacular on the greens. She knows them like the back of her hands," Lyons said.

MADEIRA OPEN (Santo da Serra): Early leading second-round scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 135 D Chopra (Swe) 69 66; 139 J Sandelin (Swe) 69 67; 140 P Lyons 68 72, S McAllister 73 67, P Sjoland (Swe) 72 68; M Davis 72 68, J Van de Velde (Fr) 69 71; 141 D Higgins 71 70, P Affleck 72 69, S Ames (Trin) 72 69, D Borrego (Sp) 75 67, C Suneson 71 70. 142 M Archer 73 69; 143 D Ray 73 70, J Hawksworth 69 74, J Pinero (Sp) 72 71, D A Russell 74 69, A Haglund (Swe) 70 73, J McHenry 70 73; 144 S Watson 70 74; 148 M Welch 76 72, R Willison 79 69, P Linhart (Sp) 78 70, P Fowler (Aus) 76 72, D Smyth 77 71, P Harrington 75 73.