Big comeback by McCormack in Lisbon
Eddie McCormack rebounded from an opening 80 with a 70 in PortugalLimerick’s Pat Murray is the only Irish player on course to make the 54-hole cut in the Portuguese International Amateur Championship near Lisbon.
The South of Ireland champion birdied his last two holes for a 73 that left him inside the crucial top 40 and ties on one over 145 at Montado but 10 strokes off the lead held by England’s Jerome Titlow (68-67).
With 46 players on three over or better, Galway’s Eddie McCormack moved to within three shots of the mark when he improved on his opening round by 10 strokes with a two under 70.
The Cavan native had one of just 28 sub-par rounds in the 120-strong field when he mixed five birdies with three bogeys to move up to joint 65th on six over.
He’s tied with Irish Amateur Open champion Gavin Moynihan, who shot a second successive 75 featuring three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey five at the par-three 18th, his ninth.
Belvoir Park’s Matthew Wylie had just one birdie in a 77 to slip to seven over with Matt McAlpin two shots further back after a 76.
Castle’s Alex Gleeson also found the going tough, adding an 80 to his opening 79.
Portuguese International Amateur after 36 holes {Leaderboard}
Pos Name Par Agg Rd 1 Rd 2
32 Pat Murray IRL + 1 145 72 73
65 Eddie McCormack IRL + 6 150 80 70
69 Gavin Moynihan IRL + 6 150 75 75
75 Matthew Wylie IRL + 7 151 74 77
85 Matthew McAlpin IRL + 9 153 77 76
108 Alex Gleeson IRL + 15 159 79 80