GOLF TOUR NEWS:OVERNIGHT LEADER Ross McGowan proved more durable than Michael Hoey on the second day of the €1.25 million Estoril Portuguese Open as the Englishman consolidated his place at the top whereas his closest pursuer trundled down the leaderboard in difficult conditions at Oitavos Dunes in Cascais.
For the second week running on the European Tour the school report from the Ireland camp didn’t make for particularly good reading – albeit this week’s event is marginally better than last.
Where Irish interest at last week’s Andalucia Open in Seville ended at this midway juncture – as all six players missed the cut – at least two Irishmen in Hoey and Paul McGinley will be around for the weekend in Portugal.
McGowan followed his career-equalling best 64 from the first round with a 73 yesterday to lead by one shot on five-under 137 from a pair of tour rookies in Scotland’s Chris Doak (70) and Spain’s Carols Del Moral (71).
No player was exempt from the gusting conditions and McGowan, like most, found the bogey tally outweighed the birdies. The 26-year-old picked up back-nine birdies at the 11th and 17th but four bogeys brought him back down to earth.
“The front nine was brutal really. The wind was gusting and the greens are getting firmer. You’ve just got to dig in, take your chances and hope your short game is up to par,” said McGowan, who believes the course could become unplayable if the conditions – as predicted — deteriorate over the weekend.
That said, there’s always an exception to the rule. Yesterday it was Wales’s Stuart Manley who shot the low round of the day. In defying the elements the 30-year-old carded a bogey-free 66 – including four consecutive birdies from the eighth – and was rewarded with a climb of 106 places to be tied 15th on one-under, one better than Hoey.
The Belfast pro moved in the opposite direction to Manley as he struggled to find the rhythm he enjoyed during his opening 66. The former British Amateur champion dropped three shots in four holes from the fifth to turn in 39.
Although he got one back with a hard-earned birdie at the 11th, it was soon given back with a double-bogey seven at the par five 13th followed by another dropped shot at 17 as his 76 undid all the good work from the first round.
On the plus side Hoey was not the only player to go backwards and at level par the 30-year-old is still only five shots off the lead.
McGinley had another tough day at the office before signing for a 74 to leave the three-time Ryder Cup player seven off the pace on two-over.
Jonathan Caldwell made a spirited run in the closing stages of his round but ultimately came up just short. The Clandeboye golfer appeared dead and buried before two birdies at 13 and 15 followed by an eagle at 16 offered genuine hope. However, a closing bogey for a 70 agonisingly dropped the former Walker Cup player one shot outside the cut which fell at two-over 144.
Gareth Maybin, who returned to competitive action after a five-week break, returned a level par 71, while Damien McGrane’s 72 meant the pair joined Caldwell on three-over.
Peter Lawrie (74) and Gary Murphy (75) also have the weekend off after they finished well down the field on five-over.
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