Englishman Sam Walker moved into the lead midway through the second day of the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI, battling testing, windy conditions with aplomb to sign for a six under 66 and move to 11 under for the tournament.
The three-time Challenge Tour winner got off to the perfect start after teeing off in the first group of the morning on the back nine, picking up a shot each at the tenth and 11th holes.
A birdie at the 13th preceded a run of ten successive pars but that stretch was broken by an eagle at the par four sixth before a birdie at the next hole saw the Birmingham player home in six under and moved him into contention for a maiden European Tour title.
“It was tough out there,” said the 37 year old. “But if you played with the wind a little bit you’d create some chances and that’s what I did. I played with the wind a little bit at the tenth and 11th and got two birdies there.
“I play with a fade so I can use the wind to my advantage a little more than other people. It was really steady. I didn’t make anything after the turn even though I was playing lovely. At the sixth I went over the corner with a driver and came up just short of the green, then I chipped in.
“At the seventh I was up in two and made a nice eagle and I just missed a putt at nine for birdie so it could have been better. It could have been better yesterday too but this is Madeira, it’s never easy here.”
