Round two of the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship began on Friday and tough conditions continue to wreak havoc at Trump International in Aberdeen.
Strong wind gusts swirled around the links course, leading to the organisers bringing forward a number of tees and slowing the greens to mitigate the gusty conditions.
Battling the winds, Belfast’s Damian Mooney replicated his opening round, turning in another one-over-par round, which sees the 57-year-old into a three-way tie for fifth on two-over heading into the weekend.
Mooney began with a birdie on the first hole followed by another on the fourth before closing out the front nine with a disappointing bogey.
Unlike round one, Mooney did well to keep the triples off his score card, battling the unforgiving nature of links golf to par seven holes on the back nine.
Mooney remains Ireland’s main chance of a victory at Trump International as the other three Irishmen in the field slowly fell down the leaderboard.
Kilkenny’s Gary Murphy made an impressive recovery on day two, carding six birdies on his way to a one-under 71 – six birdies more than he managed in the opening round – as he climbed into a share of 33rd despite a 10-over 72 on day one.
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley struggled in round two – as he did in round one – making a double and a triple bogey in a disappointing eight-over-par round, leaving him in a tie for 55th at +13.
One better overall is Antrim’s Cameron Clarke who carded a seven-over 79 for a 12-over tally for the tournament – sitting in T46.
Round two saw a new leader emerge as England’s Andrew Marshall made light of the brutal conditions and made a superb start to his round, the five-time professional winner going five-under-par through the first seven holes.
The 51-year-old made back-to-back bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes, but his early flurry of birdies sees him move a shot clear on two-under-par.
“I got off to an incredible start and I just didn’t think too much about it,” said Marshall.
“(I) just kept hitting the ball and it was going in. I just hit less club, put it in play, and I could see a lot of people tearing their hair out because they’re hitting driver trying to pick up shots. I just tried to poke it down the middle and accept that four is a good score on any hole,” he added.
After numerous near-misses, including three top-fives last season, Marshall is now 36 holes from a maiden Legends Tour title.
“I’m currently in the lead, which is a bit daunting, but it’s what you dream about isn’t it? If I can play anywhere near like that and can keep making fours and not three-putt too many times, it should be very interesting,” added Marshall.
Spain’s Carlos Balmaseda is looking to put the disappointment of missing the cut at the ISPS Handa Senior Open Championship behind him as the 53-year-old joined Marshall in being the only players under par and currently sits behind him in solo second and a single stroke in arrears.
First round leader Michael Jonzon was putting together a solid round until a catastrophic 11 at the par-4 ninth threw the Swede off track, with three lost balls off the tee.
Play continues on Saturday with the harsh weather conditions expected to ease up.
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