Two Gloves three clear

Tommy 'Two Gloves' Gainey stormed into a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina.

Els and Casey closing in on a play-off spot

Tommy 'Two Gloves' Gainey stormed into a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina. The 37-year-old rookie - who shared the lead alongside fellow American Jeff Quinney following a seven-under 63 on Thursday - had six birdies and a solitary bogey at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro to grab the lead. The man from South Carolina is three clear of a group of four players on nine-under. They include three-time major champion Ernie Els, who started the week just outside the top 125 who qualify for the FedEx Cup play-offs but looks on course to qualify for next week's opener at The Barclays. The South African added a 66 to his opening 65 to share second alongside Australian Stuart Appleby and Americans Webb Simpson and Daniel Summerhays. England's Paul Casey - another man battling to get into that top 125 on Sunday - is a shot further back on eight-under after a 67. His fellow countryman Ian Poulter had a second successive 69 which saw him miss the cut by a shot, although he should survive to play next week. Padraig Harrington is still in there battling for a place at Plainfield Country Club after a 68 got him into the weekend at Greensboro by a shot. USPGA runner-up Jason Dufner is assured of his play-offs place, but had a disappointing day after his opening 66, shooting a three-over-par 73 that means he will have the weekend off as well.