PGA Tour — Shane Lowry knows he must win one of his next two events to have any chance of qualifying automatically or persuading Darren Clarke that he deserves Ryder Cup place

But even after a fine,  five under 65 in the second round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina last night he’s still seven strokes off the pace.

The Co Offaly man moved up 49 places to tied 26th on five under par as Korean Si Woo Kim flirted with a 59 but eventually signed for a 60 and two shot lead on 12 under par from Kevin Na, Hideki Matsuyama (64), Mr 58, Jim Furyk    (64) and former US Open winner Lucas Glover (61).

Still, it’s a good sign the three-time tour winner from Clara is making birdies again.

Ryder Cup table

He made five in seven holes on the front nine last night with a solitary bogey seeing him turn in 31 before picking up just one more shot on the back nine - a two from five feet at the 175-yard 16th.

Scores

Dunne survives Czech cut

European Tour — Belgium’s Tomas Pieters stayed on track for a successful title defence at the D+D REAL Czech Masters after the Belgian carded a five under par second round 67 at Albatross Golf Resort to share the halfway lead with Denmark’s Jeff Winther.

The 24 year old from Antwerp enjoyed a flawless round at the sun-kissed Prague venue - a member of the prestigious European Tour Destinations network - to move to a ten under par total and maintain his hopes of an eleventh-hour charge into contention for automatic Ryder Cup qualification.

Paul Dunne was the only Irish player to make the cut, making the one over cut by two on one under par mark after rounds of 72 and 71.

The Greystones player needs a good week soon as he is 119th in the Race to Dubai with only the top 110 automatically retaining the full playing rights.

Peter Lawrie missed the cut by one after a pair of 73s while rookie Cormac Sharvin finished near the foot of the leaderboard after rounds of 77 and 82.

Selfridge well back in Switzerland

Challenge Tour — Ryan Fox will lead the hunt for the Rolex Trophy title today after Pep Angles moved into the outright lead on day three at Golf Club de Genève on 15 under par.

The Spaniard is one shot clear of Dylan Frittelli and Sam Walker, with Fox and Romain Langasque in a tie for fourth on 13 under par after frustrating third rounds in Geneva.

Fox, who one week ago was representing New Zealand in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, shot a 62 around this course 12 months ago and will look to draw on those memories after a frustrating day of missed opportunities.

Moyola Park’s  Chris Selfridge is tied 36th in the 42-strong field on one over par after rounds of 72, 73 and 72.

Seamus slips back

Web.com Tour — Seamus Power slipped back to earth after his Olympic Games trip when he added a level par 71 to his opening 66 in the News Sentinel Open in Tennessee.

The Waterford man fell 44 places on the leaderboard to tied 54th and nine behind leader J.J. Spaun, whose 62 gave him the clubhouse lead on 14 under par at Fox Den Country Club in Knoxville before play was suspended due to darkness.

Scores