Robin Williams posted a five under par round of 67 to take a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Big Green Egg German Challenge powered by VcG at Wittelsbacher Golfclub, but all six of the Irish bow out.
Dermot McElroy came closest, but bogey on the 18th hole when birdie was required put paid to his chances, while Liam Nolan (+3), Mark Power (+5), Jonathan Caldwell (+6), Conor O’Rourke (+10) and John Murphy (+19) all join him on the plane home.
South African Williams carded six birdies and a single bogey to move to 11 under par in Neuburg an der Donau, one ahead of compatriot Deon Germishuys, England’s David Horsey and Frenchman Oihan Guillamoundeguy in second.
The 22-year-old was pleased with his consistency off the tee during the second round and believes his game is trending in the right direction as he goes in search of a maiden Challenge Tour title this weekend.
“It was very solid today,” he said. “I’ve been playing well recently, and my putting was really good again. The greens are flush out here which is so nice because once you get the ball started on your line it has a pretty good chance of going in.
“I feel like this course suits my game because it’s quite tight and I’ve been very good off the tee to make sure I’m keeping my ball away from the trouble and put it in a good position for my approach shots.
“I’ve been playing some good consistent golf recently and that has been my aim each week to just put myself into contention.”
Williams made his debut on the DP World Tour as a 16-year-old at the 2017 British Masters before going on to represent Europe in the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup through his dual English-South African nationality.
He is currently placed in eighth position on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and has set his sights on a strong finish to the season to secure DP World Tour playing privileges for 2025.
“It would mean everything to get my DP World Tour card at the end of the year because it would show that my consistency on the Challenge Tour throughout the year has paid off,” he said. “I’ve been playing on the Sunshine Tour for the last two seasons and to make the step up so quickly would be amazing.
“It’s been great to be able to test myself on that next level where there are a lot more cameras, crowds and stronger fields and I can see where my game is at compared to those guys. I’m just trying to concentrate on the Challenge Tour at the moment to see how high I can finish on the Rankings.”
Frenchman Pierre Pineau sits in fifth position on eight under par, while Scotland’s Daniel Young, Dane John Axelsen, Italian Gregorio De Leo and Spaniard Quim Vidal are a shot further back in sixth.
The third round will get under way at 8:00am local time, with Williams teeing it up in the final group alongside Horsey and Germishuys at 11:44am.
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