Whiteford leads as Irish challenge falters

THE numerically strong Irish contingent collapsed in disappointing fashion during yesterday’s second day of the Ireland Ryder Cup Challenge tournament over the Lackabane course at Killarney, leaving 25-year-old Scot Peter Whiteford clear at the top of the leaderboard with a highly impressive total of 12 under par 132.

Conditions weren’t quite as favourable as on Thursday but low scores abounded once again. Whiteford, 25 next month, added a 67 to his opening 65 to open up a two stroke advantage over his 24-year-old compatriot Marc Warren, a member of the successful 2001 British and Irish Walker Cup side. The Finn Roope Kakko, who had burned up the course with a record shattering 63 on Thursday, found Lackabane a far more testing proposition on this occasion and settled for an even par round of 72 although still remaining very much in contention on nine under, just three off the pace.

David Higgins went into the week in second place in the order of merit and the big Irish hope. Disappointingly, though, he was at odds with his game, especially yesterday when a two over par 74 saw him miss the cut which came at one under.