• Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Round Two

Fleetwood steals the limelight with superb 63

ESPN staff
September 30, 2011
Rory McIlroy had reason to smile after a good second day © Getty Images
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Tommy Fleetwood upstaged the star names on day two of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, firing a sparkling 63 to storm into a share of the lead with Michael Hoey.

The 20-year-old was faultless at Kingsbarns, being rewarded for his aggressive play by rolling in no fewer than nine birdies. Hoey played fluently for a 66 as both men headed up the leaderboard on 12-under-par.

Former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen is one shot behind the leaders and is well placed to celebrate another victory at St Andrews. Beginning the day in a share of the overnight lead having opened with a 66 at Kingsbarns, the South African continued his fine form at Carnoustie to sign for a five-under 67.

Graeme McDowell is one of five players on 10-under, the Northern Irishman playing freely to match his first day's efforts with a 67 at Carnoustie. Germany's Martin Kaymer is in hot pursuit, finishing the day on nine-under. He was threatening to shoot a really low score after reaching the turn four-under, but he dropped shots on two of his last three holes to card a 67.

World No. 1 Luke Donald endured a torrid time on his final few holes as his hopes of winning the tournament suffered a huge blow. As the Englishman headed to the 15th tee he was five-under and, seemingly, in little bother. However, he bogeyed the hole and then immediately dropped another shot. A par looked to have settled him down but worse was to follow at the 18th, where a double-bogey six saw him shoot a disappointing 71, to leave him eight adrift of the frontrunners.

Compatriot and world No. 2 Lee Westwood, who is still capable of overhauling Donald at the top of the Race to Dubai, birdied the fourth, sixth and 12th to move to seven-under for the week.

Westwood is joined on seven-under by Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy, who returned to prominence with an eye-catching 67. The US Open champion got off to a flyer at Carnoustie, draining birdies at the first, third, fourth and fifth. Two more followed coming in but a late bogey would have rankled.

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