Niall Turner produced a good second round of golf at European Tour Qualifying School at Golf D’Hardelot in France after the Muskerry man fired a 67, including five birdies. This effort added to a first round 69 put him at six-under par and within the qualifying bracket.
Turner is four shots off leader, South Africa’s Haydn Porteous, whose carded a 62 put him 10-under par at the half-way mark.
Porteous notched nine birdies in a flawless display in Hardelot to leap to the head of affairs on ten under par, four shots clear of De Jager with a 71.
One shot off the lead were Frenchman François Delamontagne, who has 207 European Tour appearances under his belt, and Scotsman Paul Doherty, brother of Challenge Tour regular Jack, who struggled to a 76 at Frilford Heath.
Tim Rice of Limerick has a chance of making it through after his second consecutive par 71 left him in a share of 29th position.
Richard Kilpatrick may have left himself with too much to do after a second round 75 put him in a tie of 61st place with four-over par.
In the event being held at Frilford Heath in Abingdon, Irish hopes are fading with Ballybunion’s John-Daniel Guiney’s 72 leaving him on one-over for the tournament and a share of 47th place probably the best hope.
Laurie Canter continued his impressive form on day two adding a round of 70 to his opening 65 to maintain his advantage at Frilford Heath.
The former amateur star mixed five birdies with three bogeys at the Oxfordshire venue to climb to nine under par and lead by one shot from his fellow Englishmen Jack Senior (68) and Curtis Griffiths, whose six-birdie round of 67 was the joint lowest of the day.
Griffiths’ effort was matched by Liam Bond, who led at the midway stage of the ISPS Handa Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort in August. Bond’s round of 67 carried the Welshman to six under par and gave him every chance of repeating his feat of 12 months ago, when he won the Qualifying School First Stage at Frilford Heath.
Headfort’s Brian Casey and Mike Kelly of Kildare had rounds of 70 and 71 respectively to leave them on two-over and a share of 54th position.
Meanwhile, Galway’s Shane Franklin hit 80 in his second round to put him with little chance of qualifying.
Thomas Conran is in 101st place after his 78.
With 102 players competing at each venue this week and only the top 24 and ties progressing to the Second Stage, the competition is sure to be intense over the final two rounds.
