Fanagan and Clausset take two shot leads into final rounds of European Senior Championships at Douglas

Jody Fanagan continues to pile on the pressure in the European Senior Men's Championship. Photo: Thos Caffrey / Golffile.

Milltown’s Jody Fanagan takes a two-shot lead into the final round of the European Senior Men’s Championship after he added a battling one-over 72 to his opening 64 at Douglas.

The former Walker Cup player leads on six-under from Greystones’ Alan Condren, who also shot 72 at the Cork parkland.

In the European Senior Ladies’ Championship, Belgium’s Sylvie Clausset carded a second successive 71, which included her first eagle in 30 years, to lead by two shots from Sweden’s Charlotte Ödman on four-under-par.

Men’s scoring

Women’s scoring

“I am ahead of where I wanted to be,” Fanagan said. “Just get my rhythm and swing again tomorrow and then you deal with what is in front you.

“It was a funny day. I actually played well on the front nine, I got four birdies but a double bogey on a par three. Then a few funny swings came out and I lost my rhythm.

“You lose your confidence a little bit, hit a few bad shots. I made two double bogeys on par threes, which you shouldn’t do, but other than that I putted well, I kept it in play most of the time.

“I knew I would struggle a bit, it wasn’t going to be as good as yesterday. I knew that and you just have to deal with that and hang in there when the tough holes come.

“It’s about trying to keep my nose in front and keep it going and looking forward to playing tomorrow.”

Sweden’s Marcus Karlsson made the biggest impression on the leaderboard on Friday morning, carding a second-round 70 to get to two under par and take the clubhouse lead.

Overnight leader, Fanagan, began with a birdie at the second and three more birdies followed for a front nine 33, despite the double bogey at the fourth.

He suffered another uncharacteristic double bogey at the 15th but rallied over the closing stretch and finished his round with a birdie at the 18th.

His playing partner, and defending champion, James Crampton, moved up the leaderboard thanks to a 69 but it is Condren who is the closest challenger on four-under.

A strong late showing gave Clausset the overnight lead in the women’s event heading into the final round after she carded a second straight round of 71.

Sylvie Clausset is the leader in the European Senior Women's Championship. Photo: Thos Caffrey / Golffile. 

The Belgian golfer began her round with a bogey but cancelled that out with a birdie at the second and finished the front nine in 37 shots. Then on the back nine she landed a precious eagle three at the 14th and a birdie at the 16th for a two-shot overnight lead.

Sweden’s Charlotte Ödman impressed too and her round of 70, including two eagles, was enough for second place on two while overnight leader Alison Taylor from Malahide shot 75 to sit alone in third, three shots off the lead on one-under.

“I stopped golf for 29 years,” Clausset. “I just came back three and a half years ago. I haven’t made any eagles since. My last one was around 30 years ago.

“The first nine were more difficult because of the weather conditions. We had rain, wind and the greens were very difficult to estimate the speed because of that.

“So I needed a few holes to get used to that. Then I had the same score on the first nine as yesterday. I just felt, okay, I know that the back nine are easier for me and more opportunities for birdies.

“And also the weather was calming down, it made it easier. Then I also had a very nice eagle.”