Manley prepares for crucial weekend

Stuart Manley, a schoolboy soccer starlet who had a trial with Manchester United, is about to find out how good a golfer he is.

The 29-year-old from Mountain Ash in Wales has never had a top 10 finish on the European Tour since turning professional in 2003, but at halfway in the Portugal Masters he is 11 under par and one ahead of Spaniard Alvaro Quiros.

From the depths of 174th on the Order of Merit and 575th in the world, Manley followed up his opening 65 - the lowest round of his Tour career - with a 68.

While Colin Montgomerie headed home after missing his fourth cut in his last five starts and for the ninth time this season, Manley looked ahead to the test that he realises the final 36 holes will be.

Leader by one overnight, he had been overtaken by the time he reached the turn in 36 on his return to the Oceanico Victoria course.

But then came a chip-in par on the 11th, a four-iron to six feet for an eagle at the 547-yard next and birdies at the 15th and 16th.

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie is hoping this will be the weekend when he returns to winning ways.

Less than three months away from his 40th birthday Lawrie, whose last success was the 2002 Wales Open, had a seven-birdie 65 to move to nine under and joint third with Swede Magnus Carlsson.

Order of Merit leader Robert Karlsson could yet record his third successive victory, a 67 lifting him from 17th to joint fifth on eight under.