Newlands' Andrew Hogan looks certain to lead the qualifiers after he defied winds gusting up to 50 mph to card an incredible four under par 67 in the West of Ireland at Rosses Point this afternoon.

The 19-year-old Dubliner came home in six under par 29 thanks to six birdies in his last seven holes and tops the leaderboard on one-over par 143.

He's three strokes clear of Irish Close champion Shane Lowry, who shot a level par 71 earlier today to sit alone in second place on four-over par 146.

Co Sligo's Gary McDermott and Baltray's Simon Ward shot 73 and Clandeboye's Harry Diamond a 74 to share third place on six over par 148.

The top 64 after the completion of today's second strokeplay round will qualify for the matchplay stages tomorrow morning.

143 A Hogan (Newlands) 76 67
146 S Lowry (Esker Hills) 75 71
148 G McDermott (Co Sligo) 75 73, H Diamond (Clandeboye) 75 73, S Ward (Co Louth) 75 73
152 D Lernihan (Castle) 78 74
154 G Hall (Edenderry) 77 77, D Sutton (Lockerbie, UK) 77 77, E McCormack (Galway) 75 79, P Buckley (Kanturk) 74 80
155 M Hemphill (Portstewart) 76 79
156 S Webster (Castle) 83 73, P Purdy (Shandon Park) 78 78
157 M Lavelle (The K Club) 77 80
158 A McAllister (The International, USA) 83 75, A Christie (Tyrrelswood, UK) 76 82
159 B Reddan (Co Louth) 82 77
160 G Dillon (The Heath) 82 78
161 C Selfridge (Moyola Park) 82 79
162 E McAnoy (Knock) 84 78, A Moran (Tuam) 82 80
164 D Lally (Tuam) 84 80
168 B Anderson (Co. Sligo) 87 81
174 G Paterson (Moray, UK) 87 87