Matt Wallace ground out a level par 72 on a difficult second day of the Sky Sports British Masters to stay right in contention heading into the weekend at Walton Heath Golf Club.
The Englishman entered round two in a share of the lead in Surrey and while he could not keep pace with countryman Eddie Pepperell in high winds, he was only three off the lead when play was suspended due to darkness on a day when many of the field went backwards.
As well as battling the tough conditions, Wallace was playing just a day after his grandmother passed away, and showed all the battling qualities that have made him a four-time European Tour winner.
“My grandma died yesterday morning so that was quite tough,” he said. “Today was a hard one to get through. I'm playing with a heavy heart this weekend but I'm playing for her.”
He added: “It was just brutal today with the wind, especially with how fast the greens are and the wind buffeting off the side.
“Really happy with how I'm playing, though. I felt like I left quite a few shots out there today, so that's a positive.”
Countryman Jordan Smith was a shot behind Wallace as his roller coaster of a week continued on the outskirts of London.
He made four birdies in his first six holes to take the very early lead on day one but signed for a 71 and, after making a bogey on the second on Friday, he was eight shots off the lead.
He then picked up six shots in five holes from the eighth and while two bogeys on the way in took some of the gloss off his round, the 25 year old had put himself in a good position after a 69.
“My coach just said, 'just get through the first six level par and I'd be happy'. Unfortunately I was one over but I managed to turn that around and the middle six were quite nice with the downwind and the short par fives.
“I'm very happy with a six under start.”
The round of the day belonged to Lucas Bjerregaard, who fired a remarkable 67 to get himself to three under and within five of the lead.
After winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday, the Dane admitted he was a little jaded early in the week but he was delighted to get back on track in conditions he enjoys.
“Today was a lot better,” he said. “I think last week hit me a little bit yesterday. It was a busy few days and maybe I didn't manage my time quite well enough.
“It all started on 15 when I holed a seven iron slam dunk, I've never done that before and it kind of started there. Back nine especially I made some good up-and-downs but hit some solid shots as well.
“I enjoy this where you have to be a bit creative and really grind it out.”
