Broadhurst & Lima share lead at halfway

Former Ryder Cup participant Paul Broadhurst put himself in contention for a first victory in a decade Friday at the Portuguese Open, carding a 5-under-par 66 for a two-round total of 8-under 134.

That left the 39-year-old tied atop the leaderboard with Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima, who recorded a 65, and one shot ahead of another former Ryder Cup star, fellow Englishman Barry Lane.

The early starters took full advantage of the calmer conditions on Portugal's Atlantic coast, with Broadhurst notching five birdies and no bogeys in a flawless round.

"There was less wind and it was straight into you today, whereas yesterday every shot was into a cross wind, which is a nightmare, especially around here where there is a lot of trouble," said Broadhurst, whose last tour victory came in the French Open in 1995.

Lima was in position to take the outright lead after firing seven birdies in 16 holes, but became the latest victim of the treacherous 18th and had to settle for a 65.

The 23-year-old represented his native France until the end of last season when he adopted his Portuguese mother's nationality and changed his name from Philippe to Jose-Filipe.

He picked up his first career title on the Challenge Tour in 2004 and followed that up a week later with victory in the St. Omer Open, a joint-sanctioned event between the Challenge and main tour.

Meanwhile, Lane had the satisfaction of gaining a measure of revenge on the 18th in his second-round 67.

Lane entered the 18th hole Thursday at 5-under and was just one shot off the lead driving out of bounds and finishing with a double-bogey.

He was far from alone in struggling with the 474-yard par four, with Nick Dougherty, Michael McLean and Peter Hedblom recording quadruple-bogeys, while South African Richard Sterne recorded the lone birdie.

More bogeys (67) were recorded than pars (62) on the hole, and the average score for the 156-man field in the first round was 4.827.

But Lane made amends Friday by draining a 40-foot putt across the green for one of his seven birdies.

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