Bernhard Langer part of five-way tie for Senior Open Championship lead

Bernhard Langer and Tom Lehman are part of a five-way tie for the lead at the halfway stage of a weather-affected Senior Open Championship.

Overnight leader Langer struggled to a three-over 74 in strong winds and driving rain at Royal Porthcawl, with Lehman posting a second-round 72 to join the leaders on one over.

Mauricio Molina, Billy Mayfair and Steve Flesch complete the quintet in the lead, with America's Clark Dennis one stroke off the pace.

Three-time senior major champion Colin Montgomerie heads into the weekend four strokes off the pace, while former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley missed the cut after carding a bogey-filled 85.

Langer three-putted his opening hole and dropped another shot at the next, before cancelling out a birdie at the seventh with back-to-back blemishes over his next two holes.

Reaching the turn in 38, Langer bogeyed the 14th but made a two-putt gain at the last, as Lehman mixed three blemishes with two birdies during his round.

"I was hitting it solid, that's the big thing," said Lehman. "I was hitting it in the middle of the club face most of the time and able to control the ball.

"I think the first eight holes were horrific, playing in the worst conditions ever, I think."

Flesch held a two-shot lead until bogeys over his final two holes, with fellow joint-leader Mayfair dropping a shot on his penultimate hole and Molina posting two blemishes on the back nine.

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Australia's David Mckenzie briefly led after following successive gains from the third with further birdies around the turn, only to slip back with a string of bogeys along the back nine.

Miguel Angel Jimenez posted a front-nine 33 but bogeyed four of his final five holes to slip five shots back, with Ian Woosnam and Tom Watson part of the group on seven over.

Watch the Senior Open Championship throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports Golf. Live coverage begins on Saturday from 4.30pm.