Clarke can go double Dutch.

DARREN Clarke has given himself the chance to go 'Double Dutch' this weekend.

After a second-round 67 yesterday, defending champion Clarke shares the KLM Open halfway lead with Swede Peter Hedblom in Zandvoort.

And two more big names are already out with Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal both missing the halfway cut - Montgomerie for the third event in a row.

Nobody has retained the title since American Bob Byman in 1978, but Clarke's hopes are boosted by the fact that this is the same Kennemer course on which he won by four last year.

"It's one of my favourite venues. It sets up well for me and it's always nice to come back to a place where you've done well," said the Ulsterman, who has not had a single top-10 finish since his victory 12 months ago.

After mixing three birdies with three bogeys on the front nine, Clarke, who like last year has his sons Tyrone and Conor with him, came home in 31 by picking up more strokes on the 10th, 12th and 15th.

Hedblom has not even had a top20 finish this season, but he joined Clarke on eight under par with his second successive 66.

"When you're struggling, it's nice to get away from everything," said the 39-year-old.

"I've just had a three-week break and for part of that I took my motor boat and stayed on an island near where I live. I've been playing for so long that you learn you have to keep frustration away. I have the game."

The leaders are a stroke ahead of Ashington's Kenneth Ferrie, Welshman Bradley Dredge, Dubliner Peter Lawrie, Swede Oskar Henningsson and Australian Wade Ormsby.

Lawrie was 10 under and clear leader with three to play, but hit a wild drive down the long seventh and lost it, then followed that bogey six with a double bogey on the 418yard ninth.

Ferrie returned to Europe this year after losing his US Tour card and missed his first 11 halfway cuts, but was sixth at the French Open last month.

Leading players (Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 70): 132 Peter Hedblom (Swe) 66 66, Darren Clarke 65 67; 133 Wade Ormsby (Aus) 66 67, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 67 66, Peter Lawrie 65 68, Kenneth Ferrie 66 67, Bradley Dredge 66 67; 134 Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 67 67, Damien McGrane 67 67, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 69 65, Simon Dyson 67 67, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 70 64, Marcus Higley 71 63, Paul Lawrie 66 68, Shane Lowry 66 68, Jamie Donaldson 66 68, Paul McGinley 64 70; 135 Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 68 67, Gareth Maybin 67 68, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 72 63, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 66 69, Klas Eriksson (Swe) 67 68.