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Sean Lowry trailed Italy’s Francesco Molinari and Guido Migli at the halfway stage of the Abu Dhabi Championship after a 2-under 70 on Yas Island on Friday. Ozzie hit three.
Lowry, who won the event at his former home at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in 2019, had six birdies and four missed shots in the second round. He also needed a 12-foot putt on the 18th to save a bogey.
The defending BMW PGA champ seemed destined for a low score, finishing at nine under par after three birdies on four holes around the turn, but he struggled in the closing stages. Oops, 13, 15 and 18 eased a bit with a final birdie on the 16th hole. Lowry stayed in the top 10 with a tie for ninth.
Seamus Power pulled back Friday after an impressive opening 66 in the opening round. The Watford golfer shot a round 73 and tied for 22nd at 5 under.
Starting off his second day in the lead, Ball’s second round ended with missed shots on the 1st and 18th and bogeys on the 12th and 14th holes.
Ball won his second PGA Tour title at the Bermuda Championship in October with birdies on the par 5s 8 and 11 and another on the 15th. chase.
Padraig Harrington shot an over-par 73, but he will be back at the weekend as Thursday’s stellar 68 meant he was 3-under overall.
Molinari, the 2018 champion, continued to lead with a second-straight round 67 to share the lead with compatriot Migliozzi, who birdied the final hole for a second-round 69.
Molinari started at No. 10, recovered from double bogeys and bogeys on back-to-back holes at Nos. 16 and 17, and shot a stunning inside nine for a 30 with six catches. Birdie, no shot lost.
Molinari won three times in 2018, including the Open at Carnoustie and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, before becoming the first player to go 5-0 in that year’s Ryder Cup A European player with a perfect record.
“I’m very happy,” Molinari said. “Same score as Thursday, but a very different day. More ups and downs than yesterday. A couple of three-putts, a couple of mental lapses, but also a lot of good stuff, a couple of long putts.
“Obviously, the back nine is very good, which is good. I think where I am at now, when you go through a tough time, it’s nice to see that I can pick it up again.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself. It’s been a couple of good rounds, but I know, I know where I’m coming from. The game feels different. I think it looks different too. But yeah, it’s only been two rounds, there’s still a long way to go. way to go.”
Australia’s Jason Scrivner was one shot behind after a second-round 70. They were followed by a group of players at 8 under, including Victor Perez and Alexander Björk. New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and Irish Open defending champion Adrian Mellonk were in the same group as Lowry at 7 under.
Overnight leader and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald added 75 to his opening 64 and was five shots behind.
Additional reporting: Press Association
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