Mulligan heads Irish challenge in Portugal
Thomas Mulligan driving at the 16th tee during the third round of the 2016 Irish Boys Amateur Open Championship at Castle Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman
Thomas Mulligan is just four shots off the pace at halfway in the Portuguese International Amateur Championship near Lisbon.
The Laytown and Bettystown and Co Louth golfer made four birdies and three bogeys as he added a one under 71 to his opening 69 at Montado Hotel and Golf Resort to get to four under par.
England's Joshua McMahon carded a second round 67 to lead by one stroke from Denmark's Marcus Hansen on eight under par.
Massereene's Tiarnan McLarnon, the 2015 Irsh Close champion, is tied for 10th on three under after a 72 featuring two birdies and two bogeys.
West of Ireland champion Jonathan Yates made an eagle three at his 15th hole, the seventh, to card a one over 73 that left him tied 40th on three over.
The Naas player birdied the 10th, his opening hole, but dropped four shots in nine holes in the middle of his round before finishing well.
Moate's Paul Coughlan birdied two of his first three holes but made no more gains and pencilled in two bogeys, signing for a 72 that left him 48th on four over.
Newlands' Jake Whelan, well below his best, is 110th after rounds of 79 and 80.
Portuguese International Amateur Championship, Montado (Par 72)
1 Joshua McMahon ENG -8 136 69 67
2 Marcus Hansen DEN -7 137 69 68
3 Giacomo Fortini ITA -6 138 68 70
4 Adria Arnaus ESP -5 139 68 71
5 Ayoub Id Omar MAR -4 140 71 69
6 Gian-Marco Petrozzi ENG -4 140 71 69
7 Arthur Ameil-Planchin SUI -4 140 69 71
8 Thomas Mulligan IRL -4 140 69 71
12 Tiarnan McLarnon IRL -3 141 69 72
43 Jonathan Yates IRL +3 147 74 73
48 Paul Coughlan IRL +4 148 76 72
110 Jake Whelan IRL +15 159 79 80
