Michael McGeady dropped just one stroke on his way to a second round 67 of the 888poker.com PGA EuroProTour Championship in Kent on Wednesday, to hold a two way share of second place ahead of the final day.
A bogey on the par four 14th the difference between the lead and playing in the final group on Thursday, with just that one stroke separating him from the leader.
So Daniel Gavins will take that one-shot lead into the final round and will play with Oliver Farr - who he lost out to in a play-off at Montrose last month – after both shot second-round 65s at Prince’s Club.
Farr (Worcester Golf & Country Club) shared second with McGeady on eight under with Simon Lilly (Wellingborough, 67, 70) and Paul Grannell (Vale Royal Abbey, 65, 72) seven under, two behind leader Gavins on the par-72 course.
The 22-year-old, who is attached to De Vere Oulton Hall, is second on the Order of Merit and has already guaranteed himself a top five finish along with George Woolgar (Capitalservices). He won the HotelPlanner.com Championship at Dale Hill in August and finished second in the Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters at Montrose and in the Clipper Logistics Championship at Moor Allerton, losing in a sudden-death play-off in both events.
A victory for either Gavins or Farr tomorrow would see them crowned 2013 Order of Merit champion, provided Woolgar finishes outside the top two. The Chesterfield golfer is tied 36th on level par ahead of Thursday’s final 18.
“I hit the fairways and holed some nice putts,” said Gavins of his second round. “At the start of the day it was pretty calm but the wind picked up as my round went on.
“It would mean an awful lot to win this week but I am not really thinking about winning the Order of Merit. I already have Challenge Tour through the top five so anything else this week is a bonus.”
Joint second-placed Farr said: “I hit seven birdies and played some really good golf, it was probably one of the best rounds I have ever played and in some tricky conditions coming down the stretch.”
Woolgar leads the Tour rankings, with Gavins, Farr, Dave Coupland (-1, T31) and Paul McKechnie (-4, T14) completing the current top five. Only Woolgar and Gavins have already secured their playing rights for next season’s Challenge Tour already. The top five on the Order of Merit at the conclusion of Tour Championship will earn a card on next season’s Challenge Tour.
