Joy for Guan, agony for Lowry

Guan Tianlang has now made two cuts out of two on the PGA Tour. Fourteen year old Chinese sensation Guan Tianlang followed his brilliant peformance in the Masters by making the cut in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

But while it was a memorable day for the youngster, it was an agonising one for Clara’s Shane Lowry who looked likely to make the cut on two under after a bogey free 68 but ended up squeezed out by a shot.

Lowry left himself a lot to do when he opened with a two over 74.

But after a birdie at the 11th and three in a row around the turn - at the 18th, first and second - he parred his way home to give himself every chance of making the weekend.

At one stage there were 92 players inside the top 70 and ties on two under par but in the end 71 players made it on three under, including Guan, who carded a three-under 69 in the second round.

Tied for 44th place when he finished with the afternoon groups still on the course, he finished the day in a tie for 57th.

“I think I played a very good round today,” Guan said, “and I made a lot of birdies and a couple of good up and downs.  So I think I had a pretty good round, I think. I think I made the cut. …

“Making the cut is one of my goals. I’m having fun these couple of days, and I hope to play my best and go a little further into the weekend.”

Guan trails leader Lucas Glover by nine shots but his Friday 69 matched four-time major winner Ernie Els and Ryder Cup star Justin Rose.

Two weeks ago, Guan made the cut as the youngest competitor Masters history en route to claiming the silver cup awarded to the low amateur.

Glover (67) leads by one from Boo Weekley (68) with DA Points a shot further back. Els is fifth on eight under with Rose sixth, five off the pace.