Marcus Armitage leads way in UAE, Padraig Harrington makes the cut

Marcus Armitage remained the man to catch at the halfway stage of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship following a superb finish to round two.

Armitage, who enjoyed a four-shot overnight lead at Al Hamra Golf Club in the UAE, added a 69 to his opening 63 thanks to birdies at three of the last four holes.

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The 37-year-old Yorkshireman holed from 25 feet on the 15th, chipped in from over the green on the 17th and then span his approach to the par-five 18th back to within a few inches of the hole.

That took Armitage to 12-under-par and two shots clear of compatriot Dan Brown and Spain's Alejandro del Rey, who had set the clubhouse target following rounds of 64 and 66 respectively.

Padraig Harrington remains the best of the Irish competitors despite stuttering to a three-over 75. The Dubliner is now one-under for the tournament, which was enough to squeeze him inside the cut line.

Tom McKibbin failed to make the weekend despite shooting a fine 69. The damage was done when he carded a first-round 76; McKibbin was one-over-par overall.

Conor Purcell followed up his opening 72 with a 77 that saw him sign off on five-over-par.

For Armitage, who won the Porsche European Open in 2021, it was a much more satisfying day at the office.

"It was always going to be a tough day today, following up yesterday," he said.

"I felt calm out there and I got rewarded for being patient at the end. So yeah, really happy.

"I just wanted to break 70 today. That was the little goal inside my head that I had and I achieved that at the last with the best shot of the day. Just really pleased and let's see what the weekend brings.

"Holing out at the last would have been the old thing about 'it's your week' kind of thing. It was a perfect number for me