Strange extends lead to four strokes at Wales Open

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NEWPORT, Wales (AP) -- Scott Strange shot a 5-under 66 and extended his lead to four strokes Friday after two rounds of the Wales Open, advancing without Padraig Harrington who missed the cut.

Strange, a 31-year-old Australian, had a 1-under 34 on the back nine of the 2010 Celtic Manor Course, six strokes worse than his first round, when a 63 left him with a one-shot lead.

Harrington struggled with his putting and his 3-over 74 gave him a 36-hole total of 2-over 144, three strokes shy of the cut.

"You never like to miss the cut, especially when you're the supposed star attraction. It hurts the pride," the Dubliner said.

"I made a lot of poor decisions and wasn't making the putts to get anything back," he said. "It just convinced me to be more committed next week in my decision making. To be honest it has actually been quite a positive week even though I putted abominably."

It was the Irishman's first missed cut in Europe since the 2006 Majorca Classic, 19 months ago.

Harrington will play the Stanford St. Jude Championship in Memphis next week, his last event before the U.S. Open.

Strange was four shots ahead of Jeev Singh (68), Alvaro Velasco (68), Benn Barham (64) and English tour rookie Robert Dinwiddie, who eagled the last hole for a 65.

Dinwiddie made headlines at the BMW PGA at Wentworth last week with a course record 9-under 63 in the second round. His other three rounds were a pair of 79s and a 78.

Robert Karlsson, third for the last three weeks, was in a group another shot back after his second straight 67, despite two bogeys on the last four holes.

Colin Montgomerie shot 68 and was 5 under.

Strange said he liked the new layout, which will stage the 2010 Ryder Cup, because it is generous off the tees.

"I'm hitting the irons nicely and the greens are good so you can shoot good numbers," Strange said. "But it's difficult to close out tournaments so we'll see."

Strange finished second in the Johnnie Walker Classic in India in March, his best result so far.

Dinwiddie capped his round with a 3-wood, 250-yard shot over the lake onto the last green -- six feet from the hole.

"I'm trying to be more consistent," Dinwiddie said. "Right now it's up and down. I'm either top 15 or missing the cut."

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