Orr on target for first victory

Gary Orr, Scotland's 1993 European Tour rookie of the year, was dreaming of a debut victory on Friday when he surged into an early four-shot lead in the second round of the Algarve Portuguese Open.

In the past few years Orr has finished second to Europe's top two golfers, Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood, and also finished runner-up in the South African PGA Championship when the European season began in January.

The 32-year-old Scot, fitter and stronger after a winter working out, is now threatening to post a his maiden victory after a five-under-par 67.

This took him to eight-under-par 136, four strokes ahead of Australian Wayne Riley who carded 70. Joint overnight leader Phillip Price of Wales slipped back to a share of third place on 141 after a 73, with Spaniard Ivo Giner (70).

Price is fighting for the wild-card place in Montgomerie's British team to play Europe in the Ballesteros Trophy in April, but Orr has already sealed his berth after finishing 21st on the European order of merit last season.

While the Scot is delighted to be appearing against Seve Ballesteros's Europeans at Sunningdale, only a few miles from his home in England, it is a first place on the tour he craves most.

"I nearly did it in January but Anthony Wall played just that bit better than me and deserved his win," said Orr.

"There have been a couple of other times I had to take second after I had a chance to win. In the Dutch Open last year Lee Westwood holed a big putt on the last and Monty also holed a big one in the PGA the year before.

"There's nothing you can do about someone playing better than you like that but I'm sure my time is coming."

Second-placed Riley, who won the 1996 Portuguese Open, kept his card last year after losing it the year before and regaining it on invitations.

The 37-year-old finished 103rd on the order of merit and wants to make sure he keeps his card after a gruelling 1999.

Joint overnight leader John Bickerton of England, was an afternoon starter and closed to within two strokes of the lead with an eagle-two on the fourth.

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