Storm gathering Czech momentum
Having set himself a target of “three or four under” each day, the Hartlepool golfer had his second successive 68 for an eight under total.
“I wasn’t very well for five days after The Open and had a look at the helpline for swine flu,” Storm said. “But it was just a stomach upset.
“I had a week off and did a bit of gym work. I decided not to touch a club and it seems to work for me.
“I thought the scores were not going to be mega-low. I’m not saying my target is going to win, but I think it will be contending right to the death.”
Webster followed up his opening 66 with a 70, but moved from second to first because Argentina’s Tino Goya fared 10 strokes worse, with a 75.
The former winner of the Italian Open and Portugal Masters came back from a lost ball on the 14th, his fifth.
“It was only 10 yards off the fairway, but it was early and there was no marshall there,” he said. “That’s life.”
Compatriots Sam Little and John Bickerton are only one behind, along with Dutchman Maarten Lafeber and Spaniard Ignacio Garrido.
Bristol 21-year-old Chris Wood, third in The Open, has five strokes to make up after a 70.
Wood missed last week’s event in Sweden after hurting his wrist in rough at Turnberry.
“I had an MRI and it was swollen around the joints and ligaments, but the cartilage was fine. That was the worry,” he said.
“I didn’t hit a ball for five or six days and coming here my game felt a bit ropey. People said they were surprised to see me here, but three weeks without playing would have been a bit too much before the US PGA.”
Course designer Miguel Angel Jimenez is one further back, as is 49-year-old South African David Frost in his last event on the circuit before going off to prepare for his Champions Tour debut in the US in September.
Simon Thornton leads the Irish challenge at the Scottish Hydro Challenge after a second round 69 took him to one under par, five shots behind the leader, Jamie McLeary of Scotland.
While Thornton put himself in contention with a fine second round, it was a day to forget for Noel Fox, who undid his one under first round with a nightmare second day as he collapsed to a 14 over 85.
Thornton will be joined for the final two rounds by Northern Irishman Jonathan Caldwell, but there was cut-missing agony for Michael McGeady, Colm Moriarty and Peter O’Keefe who all missed the weekend action by a single stroke by posting five over totals.
Former British Open Champion Paul Lawrie is still in contention on level par.
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