Cejka keeps well clear

Golf

Alexander Cejka, whose first-round 61 was the lowest in the European Tour this year, had to be content with a 68 yesterday but he held a four- shot lead after two rounds of the Austrian Open in Litschau.

The German's two-round aggregate of 129, 15 under par, left him four shots ahead of Rolf Muntz, the Dutchman following a 68 wih a 65. Ireland's Paul McGinley and Brendan McGovern were a shot further back.

Ronan Rafferty, who won this event two years ago, was another Irishman well in contention, moving into joint-fifth place with a 66 for 135.

Steven Richardson, who is still searching for peak form, was on 136 but did not help his cause by losing a ball at the first hole, his 10th, when it sailed into the trees.

Cejka, who has a love of fast cars and owns a Ferrari, a Lancia and a Porsche, said he did not play to protect his lead. "I didn't want to screw it up with a 76 but I played aggressively," he said. "Today only four putts dropped while I had 11 single putts yesterday. That was the difference."

On current form he will be hard to catch, though both McGinley and Rafferty, anxious to seal a place in the Irish Dunhill Cup team which will be picked after the Czech Open next week, will not lack incentive.