Dunbar in hunt at halfway

ALAN DUNBAR stepped up his challenge for the Brabazon Trophy at Burnham and Berrow on the Somerset coast yesterday with a stunning three-under-par 68 in his second round.

That gave the Irish star a 36-hole aggregate of 140 to lie just two strokes off the halfway pace set by Neil Raymond from the Corhampton club in Southampton — and there is then a break of five strokes to a group of players sharing third spot.

It was a good day for the Irish as both Reeve Whitson of Mourne and Carlow’s John Greene remained very much in contention with solid performances.

Irish close champion Paul Cutler, unhappy with his 79 on Thursday, improved by six strokes to survive the halfway cut.

- TEENAGE wonder Leona Maguire produced a champagne display at Royal Porthcawl, South Wales, yesterday to record a crucial victory which gave Great Britain and Ireland a glimmer of hope of regaining the Vagliano Trophy from the Continent of Europe.

It was generally a bleak day for the hosts, who trail 7½-4½ at the halfway stage and require eight points from the 12 at stake today to reclaim the trophy they last won at Chantilly in 2005.

But Maguire, fresh from her success in the Irish Open strokeplay championship, was always in charge of her singles match against French golfer Manon Gidali, establishing a three-hole advantage on the way to a 3&2 win.

It was surprising Maguire was left out of the foursomes yesterday but she has been included in this morning’s session playing with Danielle McVeigh, who won a half for GB&I yesterday.

A big disappointment yesterday was the last-green singles defeat of Royal Portrush golfer Stephanie Meadow.