Golf: Woosnam is willing to gamble again: Sweden's Gillner matches course record with 64 to lead field as Welshman battles in vain

IAN WOOSNAM, who has not won a tournament since the Monte Carlo Open last year, gambled and lost in the second round of the Honda Open in Hamburg yesterday.

Woosnam, who stood five under par overnight and one shot off the pace set by the South African, Ernie Els, decided on all-out attack in an effort to break the field. The Welshman had advanced to seven under with six holes to play, but he fell away in the closing stages to finish with a level-par 72 for a two-round aggregate of 139.

He is five shots behind Sweden's Anders Gillner, who shot a record-equalling 64. Gillner is one shot clear of Ireland's John McHenry and his fellow Swede, Johan Rystrom, who both shot 66, and two ahead of Jamie Spence, Roger Chapman and another Swede, Gabriel Hjertstedt.

It was sheer frustration for Woosnam. 'I felt I could score well and I made up my mind to really attack the course. But after a couple of bad shots and some bad luck, my rhythm seemed to go.'

Woosnam, starting at the 10th, began with two birdies and expected to birdie the long 17th as well. But he was plugged in a bunker from his drive and had to be content with a par five. Bunkers also cost him shots at the 16th, second and fifth - and the final blow came at the seventh.

He hit a bad four-iron into a ditch, took a penalty, dropped the ball in a bad lie and finished with a double-bogey six. He birdied the last to salvage a level-par round. 'There are two rounds to go and I'm going to attack again,' he said.

Gillner, who also started at the 10th, had two birdies in an outward 34 - and six more when he came home in a superb 30. McHenry, who is not normally in contention, put his 66 down to patience and concentration.

Bernhard Langer is well placed after a 68 gave him a total of 137, but Sandy Lyle, like Woosnam, had to be content with a 72. Barry Lane, who is leading the Ryder Cup points table, missed the cut by six shots after a 73 for 149.

HONDA OPEN (Hamburg) Second round (GB or Irl unless stated): 134 A Gillner (Swe) 70 64. 135 J McHenry 69 66; J Rystrom (Swe) 69 66. 136 R Chapman 68 68; J Spence 70 66; G Hjertstedt (Swe) 68 68. 137 G Evans 69 68; S Torrance 68 69; B Langer (Ger) 69 68; C Mason 69 68; A Hare 70 67; T Levet (Fr) 68 69. 138 R Rafferty 71 67; P McGinley 71 67; M-A Jimenez (Sp) 69 69; W Riley (Aus) 72 66; J Robinson 70 68. 139 J Payne 74 65; P Broadhurst 71 68; K Waters 68 71; I Woosnam 67 72; E Els (SA) 66 73; I Palmer (SA) 67 72. 140 S Bennett 71 69; S Lyle 68 72; P Affleck 67 73; S Grappasonni (It) 71 69; J Rivero (Sp) 69 71; G Brand Jnr 70 70; M Hallberg (Swe) 73 67; G Orr 68 72; C Cassells 69 71. 141 M Krantz (Swe) 74 67; M Davis 69 72; A Oldcorn 73 68; E O'Connell 75 66; B Marchbank 70 71; M Gates 73 68. 142 A Binaghi (It) 72 70; R Drummond 75 67; T Pernice (US) 72 70; O Sellberg (Swe) 68 74; J Haeggman (Swe) 71 71; S Tinning (Den) 71 71; M Harwood (Aus) 71 71; M-A Martin (Sp) 73 69; R Davis (Aus) 69 73; R Claydon 70 72; R Berhorst (Ger) 76 66; J-M Carriles (Sp) 72 70. 143 D Hospital (Sp) 70 73; O Karlsson (Swe) 78 65; J Robson 73 70; M McNulty (Zim) 72 71; S Struver (Ger) 71 72; P Mayo 70 73; D Edlund (Swe) 74 69; S Little 71 72; W Westner (SA) 73 70; P Eales 70 73; D Ray 74 69; A Sherborne 75 68; D Feherty 69 74; D Clarke 72 71; C Williams 71 72; L Tinkler (Aus) 70 73; M McLean 72 71; M Lanner (Swe) 71 72.