Mighty Monty closes on Nobilo

Colin Montgomerie was brimming with confidence yesterday after carding the day's best score of 65 and believes he is on target to win the Hamburg Open and then mount a serious challenge for the US Open.

The Scotsman, six shots behind overnight leader Frank Nobilo at the start of play after a first-round 71, closed the gap to two and said: "I'm right back in contention and that's what it's all about."

Nobilo maintained a one-stroke lead with a round of 69 for a 10-under- par total of 134, South African Retief Goosen was on 135 after a 67. Then came Montgomerie and eight other players, including holder Bernhard Langer, of Germany, on eight under.

But it was the 32-year-old Scot who played the finest golf on a day of sunshine combined with blustery winds. He had seven birdies and no bogeys in his round and said: "I was really disappointed with my first-round 71 and I stayed in my room all last night, idly flicking through the channels on the television set.

"But today I birdied five of my first six holes and that really set me alight. Unfortunately I missed four putts of less than eight feet in the next few holes and only two late birdies gave me a 65. So it could have been a much better score, although a round like this gives you real confidence. My big target is the US Open in two weeks time."

DEUTSCHE BANK OPEN (Hamburg) Second-round scores (GB or Irl unless stated: 134 F Nobilo (NZ) 65 69. 135 R Goosen (SA) 68 67. 136 G Orr 70 66; M Martin (Sp) 68 68; M Mackenzie 67 69; C Montgomerie 71 65; R Allenby (Aus) 66 70; S Ames (Trin) 68 68; S McAllister 70 66; B Langer (Ger) 66 70; R Boxall 66 70. 137 J Spence 68 69; M Harwood (Aus) 68 69; A Forsbrand (Swe) 69 68; D Clarke 70 67. 138 O Rojahn (Nor) 66 72; J Pinero (Sp) 69 69; M Campbell (NZ) 69 69; W Riley (Aus) 67 71; O Karlsson (Swe) 69 69; J Coceres (Arg) 67 71; M Davis 70 68; D Chopra (Swe) 67 71. 139 G Clark 69 70; G Evans 69 70; T Gogele (Ger) 71 68; P McGinley 68 71; T Bjorn (Den) 70 69; P Baker 68 71; P Broadhurst 69 70; A Cejka (Ger) 71 68; S Tinning (Den) 70 69; G Turner (NZ) 68 71; P Mitchell 69 70. 140 M Welch 69 71; C Hall 68 72; C Suneson (Sp) 73 67; C Rocca (It) 72 68; E Giraud (Fr) 67 73; P Haugsrud (Nor) 71 69; S Ballesteros (Sp) 70 70; E Romero (Arg) 71 69; M-A Jimenez (Sp) 68 72; I Woosnam 72 68; D Robertson 72 68; F Roca (Sp) 68 72; F Valera (Sp) 68 72. 141 T Price (Aus) 68 73; R Claydon 71 70; C Cevaer (Fr) 72 69; M McNulty (Zimb) 70 71; J Payne 70 71; G Chalmers (Aus) 68 73; R McFarlane 69 72; D Hospital (Sp) 70 71; L Westwood 66 75. 142 S Field 71 71; G Emerson 73 69; M Roe 68 74; P Nyman (Swe) 66 76; J Sandelin (Swe) 66 76; P Moloney (Aus) 72 70; S Brown 70 72; M Tunnicliff 72 70; D Williams 72 70; G Brand jnr 72 70; M Mouland 69 73; A Hunter 71 71; R Willison 72 70; N Fasth (Swe) 67 75; R Drummond 70 72; M Jonzon (Swe) 67 75; M Hallberg (Swe) 71 71; S Gallacher 69 73.