Golf

David Carey and Cormac Sharvin best of the Irish at Mount Wolseley

Just four of the 23 home players make the cut in the Irish Challenge event in Co Carlow

David Carey in action during the second round of the Irish Challenge at Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa and Golf Resort in Carlow. Photograph: Patrick Bolger/Getty Images
David Carey in action during the second round of the Irish Challenge at Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa and Golf Resort in Carlow. Photograph: Patrick Bolger/Getty Images
Brian Keogh at Mount Wolseley
Fri Sept 15 2017 - 21:49

Dubliner David Carey and Arglass's Cormac Sharvin were the only Irishmen in the red at the halfway point as just four of the 23 home players made the cut in the Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort.

PGA Europro Tour regular Carey produced another rollercoaster round, mixing an eagle and five birdies with three bogeys and a triple bogey seven to add a 71 to his opening 72 on another testing day in Tullow.

The 21-year-old Castleknock native was just outside the top ten on one under with seven holes to go when he triple bogeyed his 12th hole.

But after flirting briefly with the cut line, he went eagle-birdie-birdie-bogey from the fifth (his 14th) and finished the day tied tied for 14th place on one under with Sharvin, who fired a super 68.

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They are seven strokes adrift of leader Oscar Lengden of Sweden, who shot a second successive 68 to lead by three shots from Julien Guerrier of France on eight under par.

Ruaidhri McGee is tied for 22nd on level par after a 69 while Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge holed out from 104 yards on the 18th for an eagle two for a 72 to make the three-over par cut on the mark.

Irish Boys champion Mark Power (17) had the joint lowest round of the day with a 67 but despite improving by 16 shots on his first round 83, the Kilkenny amateur missed the cut by three shots.

“It was a great experience and I played with two class players in Daniel Fox and Morten Madsen,” said schoolboy Power, who had two eagles, four birdies and three bogeys in his round.

“I felt like I struck the ball as well as the two lads over the two days but they know how to score and get the best out of their rounds. That’s the difference.”

Naas’s Conor O’Rourke started with a double bogey seven at the 10th and missed the cut by a stroke after a second successive 74.

And there was also disappointment also for Tullamore amateur Stuart Grehan (73) and Ireland’s top ranked Challenge Tour player Gavin Moynihan (75) as they finished two shots outside the mark alongside Old Conna’s Neil O’Briain (75) on five-over.