Aberdeen's Paul Lawrie insists he is ready for anything after notching a hole-in-one on the way to carding his second consecutive 66 in the Irish Open second round.

The 1999 Open champion caused a storm earlier in the week when he was banned from Aberdeenshire club Meldrum House for criticising their greens.

But Lawrie put that behind him with a 66 on day one at County Louth, before repeating the trick in his second round thanks largely to the hole-in-one on the par-3, 17th.

And despite weather forecasters predicting tricky conditions over the weekend Lawrie is adamant he can weather the storm.

"The weather forecast does not sound too pleasant for the weekend," said Lawrie.

"I do not wish for bad weather but when it comes I seem to do alright. If it is windy then I will deal with it as it comes.

"I played well again. I started off with two birdies and then I missed a few chances for more.

"The round could have gone either way but I got stuck in."

Irish rising star Shane Lowry leads the way in County Louth, only the second ever amateur to lead a European Tour event at the halfway stage, after he carded a ten under par 62.

Lowry leads by two shots from Robert Rock and Jamie Donaldson with Lawrie a further shot back.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie found form with a 65 to start the third round six shots off the lead.