Stuart Grehan finds himself just two shots off the lead after 36 holes of the European Amateur Championship at Vasatorps Golfklubb in Helsingborg, Sweden.
One of just 10 players to break par on a difficult opening day, the former professional who regained his amateur status earlier this year followed up with a two-under round of 70 on day two to move to -3.
After three pars to start, he bogeyed the par-3 fourth but got that shot back with a birdie-four on six and then closed out the front nine with another on the par-4 ninth to turn at -1.
Eight pars on the back side with a solitary birdie on the 13th kept him in close touch with the leaders and the County Louth man goes into the final 36 holes just two shots back.
Roscommon’s Thomas Higgins, having opened with a one-over 73, shot a blistering front nine in round two, making two birdies and an eagle to move alongside Grehan at -3, but unfortunately, it was a round of two halves as a bogey and two doubles on the back led to matching 73s and a two-over total leaving him tied for 25th.
With the top 60 and ties advancing to contest the final round after 54 holes, Matthew McClean who sits on +6 after a six-stroke improvement and a 72 on day two, is two shots off the provisional mark, but Sean Keeling won’t be around for the final two rounds after missing the 36-hole cut after two disappointing rounds.
Finland’s Sakke Siltala enjoys a one-stroke lead over world number nine Filip Jakubcik of the Czech Republic and Dane Kristian Bressum who stormed up the leaderboard with a seven-under 65, the lowest round of the day by two.
Grehan is joined by Ukrainian Lev Grinberg in a two-way tie for fourth, with a further three players one shot further adrift at -2.
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