Irish hopes of back-to-back national victories on the Portugal Pro Tour appear to be over after both John Ross Galbraith and Rowan Lester failed to make any ground on day two at Penina Golf Course.
Starting the day just three back, Galbraith, coming in off a runner-up finish to fellow countryman Daniel Mulligan at Palmares Golf Club last week, bogeyed two of his opening three holes, and added another on the eighth, but birdies at four and seven saw him make the turn at +1 for the day.
He reversed the trend on the back side, dropping shots at 11 and 16, but making birdie at 10, 12 and 18 to sign for a level-par 73 that sees him slide five places to tied 28th ahead of the third and final round.
Lester, two shots behind Galbraith after day one, was cooking on the front nine, birdieing three of the opening seven holes before dropping a shot at the ninth. He’d trade a bogey on 12 with a birdie on 13, but a disappointing double bogey on the 14th dropped him back to level for the day, and he’d par his way home, ending the day tied for 33rd.
Englishman Daniel Smith was a shot behind after day one but now takes a one-stroke lead into the final round, with Scot Liam Johnston one behind at -8. Fellow Britons Patrick Ruff and Matthew Hibbs are one further adrift at -7.
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