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Poulter takes two shot lead at midpoint

Ian Poulter of England shot a six-under 67 Friday to take a two-shot lead at eight-under-par 138 through two rounds of the Moroccan Open. American Craig Hainline is alone in second at six-under after posting a one-under 72, while Frenchman Thomas Levet and Sweden's Robert Karlsson stand three shots off the pace at minus-five.

Levet, who tied for second with Poulter in this event last year, turned in a 68. Karlsson had a second-round 71.

Poulter toured the par-73 Dar-es-Salam layout without making a bogey Friday. He tallied three birdies over the opening four holes before rolling in a seven-footer at the seventh to make the turn in 32. The 25-year-old Englishman added two eight-foot birdies on the inward nine to complete the low round of the day.

"On the range this morning it felt good. Every iron I pulled out of the bag on the range was going good and straight and the driver was doing the same as well," said Poulter, who is battling tonsilitis this week.

Poulter made 14 one-putts on his way to a total of only 22 on Friday.

"You have to find the right part of the greens, but hitting the fairways is the main thing out here," he added.

Poulter's maiden victory at the Italian Open last October helped him earn the 2000 Rookie of the Year award.

Hainline, playing a limited schedule after losing his European Tour card last year, was a little disappointed with his three-birdie, two-bogey day.

"I played just as well as the first round but finished four strokes worse," said Hainline, who opened with a 68 in round one.

Karlsson, the runner-up at last month's Qatar Masters, finished second in this event in 1992.

A total of eight players finished round two at four-under par, including 1998 U.S. Amateur champion Hank Kuehne and Switzerland's Paulo Quirici. Quirici held the lead with three holes to play but stumbled in with a pair of double-bogeys.

Nick Dougherty, the 18-year-old protege of Nick Faldo, was one of two amateurs to make the cut, which fell at two-over 148. Dougherty returned with a 69 to make it to one-under 145 after carding a three- over 76 on Thursday.

Last year's winner Jamie Spence posted rounds of 76-73 to miss the cut by one stroke.

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