Heggarty surges into contention at De Vere event

NORTHERN Ireland’s Jimmy Heggarty played himself into contention at The De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship with a superb three-under-par 69 to lie two shots behind clubhouse leader Angel Franco.

The 53-year-old carded four birdies and an eagle on the 12th hole at De Vere Slaley Hall to move to one under for the championship.

After winning the European Senior Tour Qualifying School in November, Heggarty began the 2009 season well, finishing runner-up in The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum, but has since failed to build on that start.

However his second round in Northumberland showed signs of improvement, before fog saw play suspended for two and a half hours until 5.30pm, with the afternoon groups still to finish their rounds.

Heggarty said: “Yesterday was tougher as the wind was blowing stronger. I made a couple of mistakes as I did today but it was calmer.

“I could have made an ever lower score today but I just made a few mistakes. I’ve been working hard on my game and I feel it’s coming.

“I was level par for all three rounds in Jersey – something I’ve not done for a while – and after starting with an 80 in Wales I played really well in the final two rounds.

“I’ve just got to keep it going. I look at Bertus (Smit) winning in Wales last week and it gives us all hope.”

Paraguay’s Franco, the joint overnight leader, signed for a level par 72 to stay at three under par, while Christopher Williams of South Africa is a shot back after a round of 70.

After a solid opening round, Des Smyth slipped back to four over par with a 75 that included an eagle on the 12th but also two double bogeys.

lIreland’s Simon Thornton posted the lowest round of the day to close the gap on the leaders at the halfway stage of The Princess on the European Challenge Tour.

Thornton’s round of 66, which featured seven birdies, moved him from one over par overnight – and in danger of missing the cut – to four under par, and in contention to better his highest Challenge Tour finish of fourth in the Telenet Trophy.

The 32-year-old, currently the highest-ranked Irish player, is seven shots behind leader Andrew Butterfield of England, who added a round of 69 to his opening round of 62 at Båstad GK in Båstad, Sweden.

Thornton’s fellow Irishmen Colm Moriarty also enjoyed a productive day, notching six birdies in a round of 67 to move to three under par. However, his compatriots Noel Fox and Michael McGeady both missed the cut after finishing on five over and seven over respectively; whilst the Northern Irish duo of Jonathan Caldwell and Gareth Shaw are also heading home, having finished on one over and five over par.