Italian Weekend for Gareth Maybin

Gareth Maybin remains the only Irish player to make it through round two of the BMW Italian Open in Turin and remains three over for the tournament after a level par round on Friday. He has slipped to five shots off the lead however after Frederik Andersson Hed of Sweden posted a 66 in the club house to set the pace at 8 under.

Miguel Angel Jimenez is part of the chasing group on 7 under that includes fellow countrymen Ignacio Garrido and Alejandro Cañizares, with Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Henno Ottie of South Africa, also in the mix.

The Ballyclare man is only Irish player to stay over the weekend – thanks to his first round 69 – having played an up and down round of four birdies and four bogeys for a 72.

Darren Clarke signed for a two over par round with his only birdie on 18 after dropping shots on 4, 12 and 15. A three over total for the tournament was outside the projected cut which allowed him an early flight home from Turin without fear of having to return.

Simon Thornton started the day level par after finishing his first round early in the morning. But a double bogeyed on his second hole in round 2, was followed by two more dropped shots to make the turn in 40. Another two dropped shots on the homeward leg left the Newcastle resident on 6 over and missing another cut a week after falling short in Spain.

Gary Murphy played the first nine holes in one over par needing to post a score to break out of the current rut. He managed to balance two errors with birdies to reach the 15th level. But a birdie, double bogey, par and bogey finish gave him a 78 and a total of 8 over.

Italian Matteo Manassero made the turn in 33 and completed the day with a 70 - even after a double bogey on the 16th – to remain 4 under for his first event as a professional.