Morrison makes his move

ENGLAND’S James Morrison holds a one-shot lead at the halfway point of the Madeira Islands Open.

Morrison added a second round of 65 to his opening 67 for a 12-under-par total of 132 at Porto Santo Golfe. Scotland’s George Murray is second after carding a 67 to lie 11 under, with Ireland’s Simon Thornton a shot further adrift following a 66.

Morrison eagled the 10th, his opening hole, today and birdied five of the next seven holes to be seven under for the first eight.

“It was a good day,” Morrison acknowledged. “The first hole I hit a three iron to about 25 feet and rolled it in for an eagle so that was a nice start to the morning.

“Every hole seemed like I was hitting it on the green and rolling it in, it wasn’t like I was holing monster putts.

“I made double bogey on the fourth when I hit it in the water but I recovered well from that. I felt very much in control. I didn’t feel like I was getting ahead of myself.”

Having been part of a four-way tie for the lead overnight with home favourite Jose-Filipe Lima and English pair Chris Gane and Ben Evans, Murray produced seven birdies and two bogeys in his 67.

“I was delighted with that,” he said.

“I played better than I did yesterday so hopefully I can just keep it going into the weekend.”