Two Irishmen, Damian McGrane and Gary Murphy, made their presence felt after the second day of the Challenge Tour’s Finnish Open near Helsinki today.
McGrane, the resident professional at Wexford Golf Club, fired a second round 67 to trail by shots from the leading duo England’s Simon Wakefield and Thomas Norret from Denmark, who lead on six-under.
McGrane decided to ease off on his appearances on the Irish PGA circuit and focus attentions on the Challenge Tour in the hope of making a sustained challenge which could ultimately be rewarded with a full Tour Card at the end of the season.
The 31-year-old certainly put himself in prime position in the €100,000 event going into the weekend.
Murphy was two shots further back on four-under in a share of 11th spot at the halfway stage. The Kilkenny golfer added a 68 to his opening 72.
In hindsight, it appears the 29-year-old made the right decision to opt for a return to the Challenge Tour instead of the playing the lottery, which is the regional qualifiers for the Open Championship, starting at Muirfield in Scotland next week.
Speaking at the European Open last week after finishing tied 30th and earning a cheque for just over €30,000 Murphy emphasised the need to re-ignite his focus on the Challenge Tour after missing several weeks while the main European Tour completed its Irish leg which he competed in.
Murphy is currently 67th on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit while McGrane is 62nd. Dubliner Peter Lawrie is the highest ranked Irishman in 22nd place.
Leading second round scores in the European Challenge Tour Volvo Finnish Open at Espoo GC, near Helsinki (Gbr & Irl unless stated, Par 72):
136S Wakefield 66 70, T Norret (Den) 68 68
138S Bebb 66 72, M Piltz (Fin) 72 66, D McGrane 71 67
139C Cowper 70 69, L Petersson (Swe) 69 70, P Nilbrink (Swe) 69 70, V Gustavsson (Swe) 69 70, J Little 68 71
140F Delamontagne 68 72, R Guillard (Fra) 70 70, M Smith 67 73, A Kankkonen (Fin) 69 71, G Murphy 72 68, J Edfors (Swe) 69 71, J Van Hauwe (Fra) 69 71, P Dwyer 72 68, A Tadini (Ita) 69 71, N Colsaerts (Bel) 69 71, G Hutcheon 69 71, F Orest (Swe) 69 71, D Westermark (Swe) 68 72
Selected Others:
141B Mason 70 71, L James 73 68, N Price 71 70
142D Ryles 72 70, M Sanders 72 70, A Sherborne 74 68
143R McGuirk 73 70, N Reilly 74 69, S Little 74 69, T Milford 70 73, J Morgan 72 71, G Birch Jnr 70 73
The following players missed the cut:
144C McMonagle 71 73, R Mugglestone 74 70, S Lilly 70 74
145S Parry 71 74
146S O'Hara 69 77 147 N Turley 75 72
148I Keenan 75 73, D Salisbury 75 73, W Wood 76 72
149J Bullas 74 75
150A Raitt 75 75, M Higley 76 74
152S Drummond 77 75
155I Taylor 79 76
159B Clayton 78 81
164A Cockayne 81 83
DisqF Young 77