Rory McIlroy revived his faint hopes of victory in the St Andrews Links Trophy when he carded a three under par 69 over the Old Course in Saturday's second round.

But with a 36-hole total of two-under par 142, the 18-year-old Holywood star finds himself seven strokes off the lead held by Welshman Llewellyn Matthews.

The Southerndown man added a five under par 67 to his opening 68 to open up a two-shot lead over Chart Hills' Jason Barnes on seven-under par 135.

Overnight leader Nigel Edwards could only manage a 73, falling back into a three-way tie for third with Jonathan Hurst and compatriot Zach Gould.

McIlroy is tied for 15th place while Co Louth's Simon Ward carded a second successive level par 72 and is nine strokes adrift in a share of 32nd.

St Andrews Links Trophy
After 36 holes (St Andrews Old)

Leading scores
135 Llewellyn Matthews (Southerndown) 68 67

137 Jason Barnes (Chart Hills) 66 71

138 Jonathan Hurst (Shaw Hill) 68 70, Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch) 65 73,
Zachariah Gould (Vale of Glamorgan) 70 68

139 Ben Evans (Rye) 69 70, Scott Arnold (Australia) 67 72, David Horsey (Styal) 68 71

140 Jamie Moul (Stoke by Nayland) 67 73, Matt Allen (North Hants) 69 71
Alexandre Kaleka (France) 71 69, James Byrne (Banchory) 66 74

141 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 66 75, Steven McEwan (Caprington) 70 71

142 John Parry (Harrogate) 69 73, Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) 74 68, Chris Wood (Long Ashton) 72 70, Rory McIlroy (Holywood) 73 69, Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) 69 73, Scott Larkin (USA) 72 70, Greg Paterson (New) 70 72 Tom Sherreard (Chart Hills) 72 70, Prinavin Nelson (South Africa) 69 73, Charles Ford (Kirby Muxloe) 72 70.

Others
143 Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) 73 70

144 Simon Ward (Co Louth) 72 72