born rookie Michael Lorenzo-Vera was the surprise leader by one stroke at the halfway mark of the Irish Open on Friday. His second round 70, which included three birdies, followed an opening 68, taking him to six-under-par at the Adare Manor course ahead of Germany's Marcel Siem (71). The Biarritz-born golfer is competing in only his 14th full Tour event after last year becoming the first Frenchman to finish as leading graduate from the secondary Challenge Tour. Australian Richard Green let slip his share of the opening round lead but remains in contention to record his first win this year despite carding a 74. He shares third spot on four-under par with Spain's Pablo Larrazabal (70). Ireland's Padraig Harrington (71) still has a chance to retain the title. Britain's Darren Clarke leads a group of six on three-under after a 69 boosted his hopes of a second Tour win this year. He is tied with fellow Ryder Cup player Robert Karlsson (70) and another Swede Johan Edfors (73), Spaniard Alvaro Velasco (72) and Britons Peter Baker (69) and Bradley Dredge (73) Ireland's Paul McGinley (69) and Briton Rory McIlroy (72) – are also well within sight of the lead at two-under. Five tied at six-under In Atlanta, five players were tied on six under par after a rain-affected, first round at the Atlanta Classic on Thursday. Americans Jonathan Kaye, Ryan Palmer, Jonathan Byrd, Kenny Perry and Parker McLachlin fired rounds of 66 at the TPC Sugarloaf before the rain made conditions tougher for the later players. Perry, who began in the afternoon, completed his round in heavy rain. More than an hour's play was lost as the cloudy conditions turned thundery with McLachlin forced to wait to complete his final hole - the course's ninth. With few non-Americans in the tournament, the best of the foreign players were Colombian Camilo Villegas who was two off the lead with a four under 68. Sorenstam shares lead In New Jersey, Annika Sorenstam may be planning her retirement, but she clearly wants to leave with a bang. The Swedish superstar carded a five-under-par 67 to seize a share of the first-round lead in the Sybase Classic on Thursday, alongside Australian Rachel Hetherington and South Korean Song Hee Kim. Sorenstam, a former world No. 1 and winner of 10 major titles, said Tuesday that this would be her last year on the LPGA tour. Lorena Ochoa, the world's top-ranked player, was in a group of six players just one shot off the lead.
