Carey and Sharvin in the mix at Mount Wolseley

David Carey. Image courtesy: Jimmy Penrose

Dubliner David Carey and Arglass's Cormac Sharvin are the only Irishmen in the red at halfway as just four of the 23 home players made the cut in the Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort.

PGA Europro Tour regular Carey produced another rollercoaster round, mixing an eagle and five birdies with three bogeys and a triple bogey seven to add a 71 to his opening 72 on another testing day in Tullow.

The 21-year old Castleknock native was just outside the top ten on one under with seven holes to go when he triple bogeyed his 12th hole.

But after flirting briefly with the cut line, he went eagle-birdie-birdie-bogey from the fifth (his 14th) and finished the day tied for 14th place on one under with Sharvin, who fired a super 68.

They are seven strokes adrift of leader Oscar Lengden of Sweden, who shot a second successive 68 to lead by three shots from Julien Guerrier of France on eight under par.

Ruaidhri McGee is tied for 22nd on level par after a 69 while Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge holed out from 104 yards on the 18th for an eagle two for a 72 to make the three-over par cut on the mark.

“It’s an interesting situation,” Lengden said of being the pace-setter rather than the chaser just a week after surging through to win his maiden title last week. 

David Carey

“I’m not a huge fan of being hunted by other players but I will accept that competition and I will do my best.

“Last year on the Nordic League, when I was in the lead I would play for a number, not against the players behind me, so I’ll set a number for tomorrow and then work against that – it’s got to be low so I don’t feel satisfied, so probably something like 14 under.”

Irish Boys champion Mark Power (17) had the joint lowest round of the day with a 67 but despite improving by 16 shots on his first round, the Kilkenny amateur missed the cut by three shots.

"It was a great experience and I played with two class players in Daniel Fox and Morten Madsen,” said schoolboy Power, who had two eagles, four birdies and three bogeys in his round. 

“I felt like I struck the ball as well as the two lads but they know how to score and get the best out of their rounds. That's the difference.

“I didn't play good yesterday but I didn't play terrible either and I didn't get the best out of my round. There were a few holes where i wasn't focusing.” 

Naas’ Conor O’Rourke started with a double bogey seven at the 10th and missed the cut by a stroke on his professional debut after a second successive 74. 

And there was also disappointment for Tullamore amateur Stuart Grehan (73) and Ireland’s top-ranked Challenge Tour player Gavin Moynihan (75) as they finished two shots outside the mark alongside Old Conna’s Neil O’Briain (75).

Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, (Par 72)

136 O Lengden (Swe) 68 68, 

139 J Guerrier (Fra) 71 68, 

140 J Lando Casanova (Fra) 72 68, S Brown (Eng) 72 68, 

141 M Madsen (Den) 72 69, O Lindell (Fin) 72 69, K Samooja (Fin) 73 68, J Arnoy (Nor) 73 68, M Fenasse (Fra) 74 67, R Saxton (Ned) 73 68, 

142 J Dantorp (Swe) 74 68, C Braeunig (Ger) 72 70, J Sarasti (Esp) 72 70, 

143 C Sordet (Fra) 72 71, C Sharvin (Nir) 75 68, M Baldwin (Eng) 71 72, D Carey (Irl) 72 71, J Van Der Vaart (Ned) 73 70, M Trappel (Aut) 74 69, G Forrest (Sco) 70 73, N Von Dellingshausen (Ger) 73 70, 

144 D Law (Sco) 70 74, G Schoeb (Fra) 71 73, G Boyd (Eng) 72 72, D Van Driel (Ned) 70 74, C Ford (Eng) 70 74, M Nixon (Eng) 74 70, D Fox (Aus) 74 70, R McGee (Irl) 75 69, E Cuartero Blanco (Esp) 75 69, 

145 A Kristiansen (Nor) 73 72, B Hellgren (Swe) 75 70, R Kellett (Sco) 75 70, T Santos Silva (Por) 75 70, J Wrisdale (Eng) 74 71, A Wennstam (Swe) 76 69, 

146 H Smart (Eng) 75 71, A Bernadet (Fra) 73 73, M Wolf (Ger) 74 72, J McLeary (Sco) 77 69, J Vecchi Fossa (Ita) 69 77, J Harrison (Eng) 75 71, P Martin Benavides (Esp) 76 70, F Maccario (Ita) 71 75, M Laskey (Wal) 72 74, W Enefer (Eng) 74 72, T Perrot (Fra) 74 72, H Joannes (Bel) 72 74, B Paolini (USA) 77 69, 

147 C Selfridge (Nir) 75 72, N Johansson (Swe) 77 70, L Johnson (Eng) 76 71, L Nemecz (Aut) 76 71, N Lindstrom (Swe) 72 75, G King (Eng) 73 74, O Rozner (Fra) 74 73, R McCarthy (Aus) 72 75, J Makitalo (Fin) 75 72, M Ovesen (Den) 72 75, B Poke (Den) 74 73, P Eriksson (Swe) 75 72.

Missed the cut

148 C O'Rourke (Irl) 74 74, 

149 S Grehan (am) (Irl) 76 73, G Moynihan (Irl) 74 75, N O’Briain (Irl) 74 75, 

150 M Power (am) (Irl) 83 67,  R Kilpatrick (Nir) 76 74, 

151 R Dawson (am) (Irl) 77 74, R McNamara (Irl) 76 75,

152 K Phelan (Irl) 81 71, S Ward (Irl) 80 72, G Hurley (Irl) 79 73, M McGeady (Irl) 77 75, D Loftus (Irl) 72 80, 

154 C Campbell Jnr (am) (Irl) 80 74, 

155 M O’Mahony (Irl) 81 74, 

160 M Murphy (Irl) 82 78, 

161 C Crowley (Irl) 82 79, 

168 J Hopkins (Irl) 79 89, 

RETD K Le Blanc (Irl) RT 0.