Shane Lowry continues steady start to FedEx Cup play-offs at St Jude Championship

Shane Lowry remains best of the Irish contenders after the second round at the FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis.

A repeat of Thursday's opening 68 saw the Offaly man move up to four-under in the first of the FedEx Cup play-off events, three shots clear of Rory McIlroy who posted a 69 on the TPC Southwind course.

It was a day to forget for Seamus Power, however, who finished on four-over after a 73.

Sepp Straka leads the way on 10-under after following up Thursday's 64 with a 66, one stroke ahead of Denny McCarthy who carded a 65.

LEADERBOARD

Lowry, 28th in the FedEx Cup standings after last week's Wyndham Championship, had a mixed front nine, with a birdie on three before consecutive bogeys on six and seven.

He bounced back immediately when he birdied eight. After a bogey on 10, Lowry finished strongly with four birdies in the next six holes before bogeying 18.

Two-time FedEx Cup champion McIlroy, sixth in the points list, is just outside the projected cut mark for the event despite a strong start to the second round which saw him birdie the first two holes.

A pair of bogeys by the turn stalled that momentum before he rallied with birdies on 11 and 15. But like Lowry, he bogeyed the par-four 18th.

Power, 24th in the FedEx Cup standings, struggled on day two with the Waterford man bogeying four of the first five holes. Birdies on six, eight and 12 marked an improvement but bogeys on 15 and - like the other members of the Irish trio - on 18 saw him post a three-over round.