Portarlington native Karl McCormack fired a second-round, four-under 67 to climb into a tie for fifth after 36 holes of the 54-hole Toro Tour season-opener at Atalaya New Course, near Malaga in Spain.
Five birdies with just the one bogey saw the host course based pro build on his opening round of level-par to spearhead the Irish contingent and move into third place in the professional category.
Carton House amateur Cathal MacCanna began the day inside the top 10 after a level-par opener, but slipped seven places to 16th overall after a one-over 72, but he lies seventh in the amateur section, one ahead of Letterkenny’s Jamie Foley whose 70 saw him climb three places to sixth in the amateur ranks and T17 overall at +2.
The final Irishman in the field, Royal Tara amateur Sean Whelan was left to rue back-to-back double bogeys as he fell from +1 to +5 on day two.
Frenchman Galaad Horau continues to set the pace, following up his -7 opener with a four-under 67 in round two to take a two-stroke lead over local man Sebastian Desoisa and Holland’s Rodi Vlasveld.
At -9, Vlasveld also leads the amateur category, two shots clear of Englishman George Ash in second.
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