Matthew McClean will need to go low on a notoriously tough golf course over the bank holiday weekend if he is to get himself back into contention at the 59th Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
McClean carded a birdie less round of 74 to lie on five-over and in a share of seventeenth place as Italy’s Michele Ferrero fired a round of 70 to lead on three-under.
The Malone man was in good shape through thirteen holes of his second round after just one bogey on the sixth but he let three shots go in as many holes with bogeys on the 14th, 15th and 16th as he came home in 39.
Young guns Luke O’Neill (Connemara) David Kitt (Athenry) and Aodhagan Brady (Co. Sligo) made the cut while East of Ireland champion Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) and Irish Close champion Thomas Abom (Edmondstown) sneaked through to the final 36 holes on the number at plus eight after a 75.
Ferrero will take a two shot lead into the final two rounds with Welshman Matt Roberts and England’s Oliver Caton tucked in behind at one-under.
Just three players are under par through the first 36 holes.
Scoring HERE
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