Hurley still in the hunt for European Amateur glory

Gary Hurley is still very much in contention to become the first Irish winner of the European Amateur Championship for eight years after finishing day two on the Dukes Course at St Andrews in a four-way tie for the lead.

The 21-year-old West Waterford star took a one-shot lead into the second day after a superb first round 66 and, despite recording a one-over-par 72 yesterday, still remains very much in the hunt for the crown, at four under, with 36 holes remaining..

His second round comprised level halves of 36 and included four birdies, 10 pars and three bogeys.

But Hurley will also be kicking himself after making a complete mess of the 10th and picking up a triple bogey seven that ultimately cost him the outright overnight lead.

And the Palmer Cup golfer is sure to face stiff competition on day three, with England international Ben Stow, Finland’s Lauri Ruuska and Italian Renato Paratore all also on four under par.

Stowe and Ruuska both carded level-par 71s for their second rounds — having both gone round in 67 on day one.

Paratore, meanwhile, followed his opening day 69 with a second round 69 to draw level at the top of the leaderboard.

Balymena’s Dermot McElroy is also still in contention at one under, currently tied for seventh, after shooting 71 for his second round, with a birdie on the 15th cancelling out an earlier bogey on the fourth.

Jack Hume from Naas is a little further back — tied for 19th — after finishing two over par yesterday, having also carded 72 in his first round. Hume’s second round included four birdies and 12 pars, but he made a hash of the par-four 14th hole — triple bogeying — while he also double bogeyed the 16th.

Richard Bridges (Stackstown) is five over par after following up his first round 72 with a 75 on day two.

Gavin Moynihan from The Island Club had a better day, having struggled to a first-round 77, notching six birdies and 14 pars in his second-round 68, but three bogeys means the Walker Cup star probably has too much work to do at three over par.

Portmarnock’s Mullingar Scratch Trophy champion Geoff Lenehan is struggling to make the cut — which will come into effect after today’s third round — with his second round 74 meaning he currently stands at 11 over par.