Print this page  |  Close Window

SUTTON COLDFIELD, England (AP) -- Mark Foster shot a 6-under 66 in a strong, swirling wind Friday to share the lead with Robert-Jan Derksen after two rounds of the Quinn Direct British Masters on the European Tour.

Both players were at 7-under 137 total, leading a group of five players by one stroke. Derksen shot a 68.

Foster started at the 10th and chipped in for birdie at the 11th. He eagled the 538-yard third hole -- his 12th of the day -- by hitting a5-wood to 15 feet. He also birdied the difficult 438-yard eighth into the wind with a 5-wood to 12 feet.

"It may have looked easy but it didn't feel easy," Foster said. "You had to be in the right position on the greens."

Foster earned his only European Tour victory at the 2003 Dunhill Championship in South Africa.

"I think it's a mental thing. I don't keep good enough mentally for four rounds and I've got to learn to do that," Foster said. "But I've been solid in recent weeks and I've worked hard on my putting."

Derksen played through some rain and finished just before a short suspension.

"My mind set didn't change," Derksen said. "I am delighted with that score and making five birdies on a tough day."

Martin Erlandsson had an eagle and seven birdies in his tournament-leading 63 on Thursday, but he could only manage one birdie Friday in the tough conditions for a 75.

That was good enough for a share of third place with Lee Westwood (70), Ian Poulter (71), Sam Walker (67) and Soren Kjeldsen (72). Westwood has finished in the top 10 in his last three events.

"A 70 was a good score today," said Westwood, who shot a 68 in the first round.

Colin Montgomerie (70) battled through the strong morning wind.

"It wasn't easy out there, very difficult conditions," Montgomerie said. "You have to expect to make mistakes on a day like this. I made two but I managed four birdies so I managed to get out alive."

The halfway cut fell at 3-over 147 and Darren Clarke and David Howell, both with 78s, missed it.

Rory McIlroy, the 18-year-old Northern Irishman playing his first pro event, shot a 78 and made the cut.

Robert Karlsson (75) broke two clubs, an 8-iron and a 6-iron, trying to hit a ball next to a tree on the third hole. He took an 8.

Karlsson sent for his clubs to be repaired and had them back by the sixth hole.

Also, Alastair Forsyth shot an 11 at the revamped sixth hole and missed the cut. The Scot drove into the water, put a 3-iron into the water, then hit two 2-irons into the water.

Then he threw the 2-iron into the water.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved.