Browne hanging tough in Italy

Stephen Browne believes he can still win the Challenge Tour's Grand Final in Italy and grab his tour card.

The Dubliner, 33, fired a second successive 69 to move to within five shots of the lead on four under par at halfway.

Browne and Athlone's Colm Moriarty must finish first or second this week to make the top 20 in the rankings and earn tour cards.

And Browne knows he can still do it after moving from 18th to 15th - five adrift of leaders Jamie Donaldson, Stuart Manley, Michael Lorenzo-Vera and Mikael Lundberg.

Browne said: "The conditions were pretty horrible today so I am pleased to have shot two under.

"I am only five shots behind which is nothing over two days. Depending on the conditions, I will have to put a low round in to get up there.

"That's not a big worry. If you are going to win any tournament you are going to have a particularly low score and I feel that I am playing well enough to do that."

Moriarty is seven shots off the pace on two under par after a one over 72.