Nash makes early move

Australian Simon Nash moved into a share of second place with three early second round birdies at the Madeira Islands Open today.

Fourth in last week’s TCL Classic in China, the 28-year-old followed up his opening 70 by picking up shots on the 10th, 11th and 14th.

At five under par Nash, whose best European Tour finish was third in the 2005 New Zealand Open, was alongside former Ryder Cup star Peter Baker and only one behind Portugal’s Ricardo Santos. Baker and Santos were both among the day’s later starters.

Notah Begay, the native American who won four times on the US Tour before suffering back problems and losing his card, resumed with a double bogey six, but a birdie on the next lifted him back to four under and joint fourth place.

A close friend of world number one Tiger Woods, Begay took the decision to enter the European qualifying school last November and came through it in joint sixth place.

Ireland's Gary Murphy (+2) and Peter Lawrie (+3) will tee off at 1.05pm and 1.35pm respectively. David Higgins is already on the course and is one over after two holes.