Portuguese Open
Le Meridien
Penina, Portugal
19th - 22nd March 1998

Par 73 Prize Money £350,000

Second Round Report

Second Round Scores
First Round Report
First Round Scores

Riley fires 66 to take a two-shot lead

Penina, Algarve, 20th March 1998 - Australian Wayne Riley shot a 7-under-par 66 today to take a two-shot lead after the second round of the Portuguese Open.

Scotland's Paul Lawrie fired a 9-under-par 64, the day's best score, and moved into second place at 136.

Lawrie's round would have broken the course record of 66 on the 6,903-yard Penina layout, but it was not eligible because preferred lies were used.

Riley, who shot a 68 on the opening day, went out in a 2-under-par 36. Coming in, he had five birdies in his last seven holes, finishing with three in a row.

The 35-year-old Riley is coming back after a broken rib sidelined him in December

"I just feel comfortable here and this is a great course," Riley said. "After I broke my rib I took a little time to get back into shape but I worked really hard and now it's paying dividends."

Englishmen Peter Mitchell, who scored 70, and David Gilford, who fired a 67, were tied in third place at 137.

First-round leader Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland struggled with an upset stomach and fell six strokes off the pace when he shot a 74.