The two leading players in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) are separated by just a single stroke going into the final 18 holes over the renowned Duchess Course.
Ireland’s Lawlor, the world number two, missed chances with his putter in a two-over-par second round of 74 yet still signed for an impressive level-par total of 144.
World number one Popert, 24, dropped three shots in his first four holes but, like his opening round, the Englishman recovered on the back nine to post a three-over 75 and trail by a shot on 145 for 36 holes.
Follow the latest scores from the sport classes here.
The weather is getting better
Popert, who was born with a form of Cerebral Palsy called Spastic Diplegia, has won five times on the G4D Tour in 2022/23 and will chase another notable victory tomorrow. Lawlor, 26, who has played in a number of DP World Tour events, has a rare condition called Ellis–van Creveld syndrome, characterised by a shorter stature and shorter limbs, and continues to impress at the Bedfordshire venue.
On an improved weather day after thunderstorms during day one, Italian Tommaso Perrino and Juan Postigo Arce from Spain, the world number four, are the closest challengers to the leading pair on six-over-par. Perrino has signed for two rounds of 75, with Postigo dropping back after his 79 which featured two double bogeys.
Rasmus Lia from Sweden and Ireland’s Conor Stone are next on the international leaderboard at eight-over. Players from ten countries or territories are represented in the top ten after the second round.
While Lawlor and Popert are both professionals, this week has seen a field of 80 male and female amateur and professional golfers competing across sport classes which cover various categories in Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting.
Free entry for the fans
The championship, held in partnership between The R&A and the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association), is one of the most inclusive ever staged, featuring nine sport classes across multiple impairment groups, with players represented from 17 countries.
An overall winner will be determined at the end of the three rounds on Friday, along with an opposite sex winner and a gross prize in each category.
Spectators are welcome to attend The G4D Open free of charge.
Key Quotes from the players
Brendan Lawlor, Ireland
“I hit it so good again today. I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens. I had a few silly three-putts and a lot of putts from inside five feet I missed. So probably looking back on my round I could be five shots better. That’s just golf. All you can do is play yourself in contention for tomorrow and hopefully they will drop then.
“I didn’t really look at the leaderboard but Kipp’s one behind so you never know it could turn into a match play situation pretty easily tomorrow.”
Kipp Popert, England
“I felt I scored well. It was a grind. I got up-and-down. I played in the trees a lot, chipped out a lot. So yeah, to come off there with three-over, I’m still in it. All I needed to do was to be around the lead. I’ve won from behind before and I’ve won from ahead before. I like competing and that’s why I’m here.”
Tommaso Perino, Italy
“The Duchess I like so much because it is a course that is good for me, especially my driver. I’ve missed one driver in four days and it is a course that if you place the driver it is not too difficult.
“I broke my leg in an accident in 2001. But in 2019 I came to the EDGA family and started again to play. It was an unbelievable opportunity to do what I wanted to do before the accident and I enjoy enough my life now.”
Juan Postigo Arce, Spain
“I really didn’t feel great. I started pretty well playing the first few holes but then I didn’t know how to manage my swing all day and was not able to score very well. I know I can score low. I know they can also score high so I hope to have a chance tomorrow.”
(Text: R&A – Communications)