Michael Hoey is lurking dangerously as he tracks his sixth European Tour win but perhaps even more impressive was Brian Casey’s back nine charge in the M2M Russian Open.

The 24-year old Headfort rookie and Europro Tour regular is making his European Tour debut and fter slippting to two over par for the tournament with nien hoes to go, he stormed home in four under 32 for a 68 that was good enough to make the weekend with two shots to spare on two under par.

Hoey was even more impressive, carding four birdies in his last seven for a five under par 66 that catapulted him from the cut line to tied 11th, just five shots behind leader Bradley Dredge on five under.

Happy, Hoey said: “I need to play really well at the weekend but I am not too far away and I can still win. I am just enjoying the course.”

Dredge carded a second successive five under par 66 to move one shot clear of Englishman Lee Slatter, who struggled with dehydration and faintness throughout his round but still managed a four under 67 for a nine under total.

Four of the six Irish in Moscow made the cut with Niall Kearney adding a 71 to his 70 to make the cut on one under with Damien McGrane (72) squeaking in on the mark.

Peter Lawrie (72), who like McGrane is in danger of a visit to Q-School, birdied his 17th but then bogeyed his final hole to miss the cut by one.

Kevin Phelan (75) fought back after a terrible start only to undo all his good work with some late bogeys.

M2M Russian Open

• 132 B Dredge (Wal) 66 66, 
• 133 L Slattery (Eng) 66 67, 
• 134 D Gaunt (Aus) 65 69, 

—

• 137 M Hoey  (Nir) 71 66, 
• 140 B Casey  (Irl) 72 68, 
• 141 N Kearney (Irl) 70 71, 
• 142 D McGrane (Irl) 70 72, 

CUT

• 143 P Lawrie (Irl) 71 72,
• 146 K Phelan (Irl) 71 75.

Challenge Tour — All four Irish players are within striking distance of the lead in the weather-delayed Cordon Golf Open in France.

While Scotsman David Law shot a 69 to lead by two shots on seven under, Ireland's challengers are all inside the Top 25 and within six of the lead.

Chris Selfridge, 57th in the rankings, can make the move he needs to challenge for his card after 67 left him just three off the pace on four under in tied fifth with Muskerry's Niall Turner (69) a short further back.

Michael McGeady (71) is tied 17th on two under with Gareth Shaw well in touch on one under after a 69.

Cordon Golf Open

133 D Law (Sco), 

135 B Virto Astudillo (Esp), M Søgaard (Den), A Widemann (Fra), 

136 D Huizing (Ned), Chris Selfridge (Nir), J Doherty (Sco), S Arnold (Aus), M Delpodio (Ita), A Saddier (Fra), 

137 M Orrin (Eng), N Ravano (Ita), S Soderberg (Swe), J Fahrbring (Swe), Niall Turner (Irl), T Remkes (Ned), 

138 S Manley (Wal), A Bernadet (Fra), H Joannes (Bel), Michael McGeady (Irl), J Robinson (Eng), C Gloet (Den), F Andersson Hed (Swe), 

139 J Adarraga Gomez (Esp), R Enoch (Wal), P Whiteford (Sco), Gareth Shaw (Nir), N Lemke (Swe),