Moran just four behind at halfway in Portuguese Amateur

Castle’s Robert Moran is just four shots off the lead in the Portuguese Amateur Championship. Picture: Pat Cashman

Castle’s Robert Moran is just four strokes off the lead at halfway in the Portuguese Amateur Championship at Montado.

The Dubliner made four birdies and two bogeys in a second successive 70 to share seventh place on four-under par.

Portugal’s Daniel da Costa Rodrigues (67) and England’s Charlie Thornton (66) lead by one stroke on eight-under from England’s Sam Done with Moran tied seventh and Castleknock’s Paul Coughlan tied 11th, five shots off the lead on three-under after rounds of 71 and 70.

Eugene Smith fell to tied 37th on two-over, leaving him just inside the top 40 and ties who will make the 54-hole cut today.

As the Gui did not send an official team, Ireland does not figure in the team standings where England II leads by two shots from the hosts, Portugal.

89th Portuguese Internacional Amateur Championship, Montado

Detailed scores / Team standings

1 Daniel da Costa Rodrigues (POR) -8 136 69 67; Charlie Thornton (ENG) -8 136 66 70;

7 Robert Moran -4 140 70 70

11 Paul Coughlan -3 141 71 70

37 Eugene Smith +2 146 69 77

46 Alan Fahy +3 147 70 77

57 T J Ford +4 148 72 76

66 Eanna Griffin +5 149 75 74

82 Jack McDonnell +7 151 72 79

96 Tom McKibbin +9 153 73 80; Colin Woodroofe +9 153 75 78

112 Gary Collins +14 158 76 82