Golf: Michael Thomson moves up

CHAD Campbell and Michael Thompson led at the halfway stage of the RBC Canadian Open as low scoring again proved difficult on a unyielding Shaughnessy G&CC course in Vancouver.

Perfect conditions greeted the players, but a halfway score of four-under was enough to give the American duo of Campbell and Thompson the lead as just 18 players managed to be under par.

Thompson joined Campbell at the top of the leaderboard after he made a late run of three birdies in his final four holes to shoot a four-under 66.

Campbell was a stroke worse off for the day after he mixed five birdies with a pair of bogeys.

Two-time US Open champion Lee Janzen had led on five-under midway through his round after he registered four birdies in five holes from the fourth to the eighth hole.

But the 46-year-old lost his way thereafter, on a course that has punished anyone wayward off the tee, to finish the day with a two-under 68. That left Janzen a stroke off the lead alongside compatriot Paul Goydos.

Another former US Open winner, Geoff Ogilvy, was in a group of seven players a stroke further back on two-under.

The Australian was joined by reigning Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, Rickie Fowler and overnight leader Kris Blanks, who followed his opening-round 67 with a one-over 71.

World No?1 Luke Donald endured another tough day as he narrowly made the four-over cut by a single stroke.

The Englishman, who struggled at The Open earlier this month, had to battle to card an even round yesterday, after a pair of double bogeys early on, and he was again left chasing his tail yesterday after producing four bogeys before he eventually went birdie-birdie at 14 and 15.

That was enough to see him through to the weekend action, although he is well off the pace in a tie for 52nd.

Defending champion Carl Pettersson missed the cut after he shot a four-over 74 to be eight over for the tournament.