Chesters hits the front in foggy Portugal; Holland hanging tough
Early morning fog delayed the second round of the Portuguese Amateur Championship. Picture via Federação Portuguesa de Golfe
England's Ashley Chesters became the first player to retain the European Amateur Championship last year. Now he's bidding to add the Portuguese Amateur Championship to his CV after posting a six under 66 to take the clubhouse lead after Thursday's fog-delayed second round.
With two hours lost to the weather early in the day, only 78 of the 120-strong field managed to finish but Castle's Daniel Holland, who opened with a 71, is in touch with the leader.
The former Mullingar Scratch Cup winner will be back on the seventh tee at Montado Golf Hotel and Resort at 7.30am on Friday morning, two under for his second round and three under for the tournament with three holes to play.
The Dubliner is just five shots behind Chesters, who made seven birdies and just one bogey in a six under 66 to lead by a stroke on eight under par from Danes Peter Launer Baek (67) and Christoffer Bring (72), Italy's Paolo Ferraris (67) and Frenchman Edgar Catherine (70).
Of the Irish that managed to finish, it was a day of mixed fortunes.
Portmarnock's Geoff Lenehan is tied for 39th on two over after a second successive 73 while Rosslare's Gary Collins had a bad day on the greens and slipped to tied 60th on six over after a 79.
Ardee's Eugene Smith also shot 79 to end up tied 69th on nine over and like Collins, he's also in danger of missing the cut for the top 40 and ties after 54 holes.