Marino defies wind and rain to grab lead at British Open

By Tony Jimenez

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Little-known American Steve Marino, making his British Open debut and playing in only his fourth major championship, was leading the way on five under par midway through Friday's second round.

Murky skies, intermittent rain and fresh winds combined to provide typical Turnberry weather but the 29-year-old Marino defied the elements by sprinkling four birdies and an eagle in a two-under 68.

One stroke off the pace on four-under 136 was 1989 champion Mark Calcavecchia, who led the "golden oldie" brigade with a four-birdie 69.

Sharing third place on 137 were Britain's Ross Fisher (68), South African Retief Goosen (70), overnight leader Miguel Angel Jimenez (73) of Spain and Japan's Kenichi Kuboya (72).

American Tom Watson, 59, who stole the first-round spotlight with a sizzling 65, was among those out on the course on three under while world number one Tiger Woods was struggling at four over par through 10 holes.

World number 77 Marino, who has compiled three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season, veered from the outrageously good to the indifferent as he swapped three birdies for three bogeys on the front nine.

He holed a 116-yard approach shot with a sand wedge at the third, sank a 30-foot putt for another birdie at the fifth and then saw his bunker shot go straight into the cup for a two at the par-three sixth.

On the inward half Marino dropped a stroke at the 10th before following a birdie at the 14th with an eagle three at the 17th where he coaxed in a curling 20-foot putt.

"It was one of the hardest courses I've ever played today," Marino told reporters. "It was like a totally different course and played so difficult out there with the wind early and the rain.

"I really don't think I could have shot one stroke less today."

LINKS DEBUT

Marino, awarded a place in the field when Japan's Shingo Katayama dropped out with a back problem Sunday, had not played on a links course until this week.

"(Links golf) is awesome, I'm just having a blast," he said. "It was probably one of the best scoring rounds I've ever had."

Elsewhere, birdies were hard to come by as the glorious sunshine of Thursday gave way to conditions more traditionally associated with a seaside layout.

For the second day running Calcavecchia reproduced the sort of form that won him the prized Claret Jug at nearby Royal Troon 20 years ago.