LOWRY IS ON FIRE AS IRISH PAIR GET IN MIX

NO Irish pro golfer has won a tournament in 2017 but Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington have manoeuvred themselves into position in the Portugal Masters to end that barren spell. The close friends clearly thrive on the Algarve as Lowry won his first event there after joining the paid ranks in 2012, while Harrington’s last win in a glittering career came in the event 12 months ago. Both motored into contention yesterday in Vilamoura where little-known Italian Nino Bertasio was the unlikely halfway leader on 12 under par after two rounds of 65. Lowry is best of the Irish duo on nine under after a sizzling eight-birdie 64, while Harrington chalked up a second successive 67 to lie a shot back on eight under. For Lowry, the Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course once again proved a happy hunting ground. Birdies on the 12th, 13th and 15th saw him turn in 33 from the 10th and he made further birdies on the second and fourth before a five-footer on the fifth had him within touching distance of the lead. A dropped shot on the difficult seventh threatened to stall his momentum but a 25footer on the eighth and a fine approach to eight feet on the ninth moved him alongside Eddie Pepperell and George Coetzee. Harrington was among the later starters and swept up three birdies in his first eight holes before a dropped shot on the ninth. On the back nine, the three-time Major champion picked up shots to par on the 12th and 13th to stay on Lowry’s wheel. There was disappointment for Chris Selfridge, who finished among the back-markers with rounds of 74 and 76. In contrast, Danny Willett rekindled memories of his 2016 Masters triumph at Augusta as he made the weekend on six under par after a 65. On the Challenge Tour, Gavin Moynihan was the best of the Irish at the lucrative Kazakhstan Open in Almaty — first prize is worth a hefty €72,000. Needing a big cheque to move into the 15 on the Road To Oman and secure his card on the European Tour, Moynihan added a 68 to his opening 72. On four under par, he lies seven shots off the pace. Michael Hoey (68) squeezed in on the cut mark on two under but Gary Hurley (68) missed by one following his 74 on Thursday.