Jonathan Caldwell was the sole Irish survivor of the halfway cut at the Omega European Masters where Dean Burmester holds a one shot lead going into the weekend after adding a bogey-free round of 65 to his opening 64.
Clandeboye professional Caldwell carded five birdies against three bogeys in a two-under 68 to move 28 places up the board to a tie for 46th at two-under. The cut would fall at one-under par, with Cormac Sharvin, who also carded a 68, missing out at plus-one while Rowan Lester completed the Irish scoring at two-over par after a 74 on Friday.
Two-time European Tour winner Burmester got to 11-under par at Golf Club Crans-sur-Sierre, edging ahead of England’s Andy Sullivan and Thomas Detry of Belgium, as he goes in search of his second win of the season following his Tenerife Open triumph.
The South African notched up six victories on the Sunshine Tour before securing his first European Tour trophy at the co-sanctioned Tshwane Open in 2017, and he has more silverware in his sights after recording four top tens this season in addition to his win in the Canary Islands in May.
“I’ve played well both days, today I was just solid,” said Burmester. “Didn’t get off to the best of starts, but holed a nice ten footer on one for par. You need those momentum ones, that just set the tone for the day. Putted beautifully again today. The greens were a little trickier this afternoon, I think it will be more of the same on the weekend. I’m very happy with today.
“I’ve got a great team behind me and everyone helping me out. My trainer gave me a book “The Art of Impossible”, I’ve been listening to the audiobook every day. Started two weeks ago and kept it going, I played nicely last week and the form has continued.
“Everyone goes through those purple patches. I did (in 2015), but I wasn’t necessarily ready to come out here (to the European Tour) and win. The next year I managed to do it, and it took me a few years to get used to and get comfortable out here. I’ve had my ups and downs, a couple of years really stressing about keeping my card. To come back and keep that stress off hopefully I can continue the form.”
Italian Renato Paratore is in fourth at nine-under par after his round of 66, while English pair Matthew Jordan and Ross McGowan are joined at eight under par by Spain’s Jorge Campillo and Justin Harding of South Africa.
- Full scoring HERE
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