Kearney best of the Irish as Sharma sets pace in Kenya

India's Shubhankar Sharma carded a four-under-par 67 to set the pace on 10-under overall at the Magical Kenya Open on Friday.

Scotland's Ewen Ferguson continued his recovery from Covid-19 and a nightmare on his previous start to lie just a shot off the leader at Muthaiga Golf Club .

Japan's Masahiro Kawamura shares second place with Ferguson on nine-under, with overnight leader Daniel Gavins slipping to a tie for 10th on five-under following a second round of 73.

Niall Kearney is the best of the Irish on one-under after he followed up an opening 70 with a level-par 71. Cormac Sharvin, Jonathan Caldwell and Paul Dunne are all a shot behind him, just above the cut mark.

In fact, Caldwell matched the low round of the day with his impressive five-under 66 to scrape through to the weekend after Thursday's disappointing 76.

However, Gavin Moynihan has failed to make the cut after a 73 left him on one-over-par.

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It was a welcome return to form for the 25-year-old Glaswegian Ferguson, who finished 130th in a 132-man field in the Ras Al Khaimah Classic last month following rounds of 76 and 78.

"I'm really happy," said Ferguson, who was part of the victorious Walker Cup side in 2015.

"After getting Covid a couple of weeks ago I went home and practised, did some work with my coach, did some work in the gym and went to Dubai a few days early and worked on my swing. It has felt good the last few days so I'm happy with where I'm at.

"With not picking up a club for eight or nine days due to Covid I kind of lost my feelings a little bit. But then I got a bit of work done and managed to hit my little fade again and am hitting it on the fairways, making some putts here and there as well.

"I'm confident and just happy to be in the