Mike Cunning fired a five under par 67 to apply some pressure to overnight leader Gordon Brand Jnr in the second round of the Matrix Jersey Classic at La Moye.
Cunning, who won the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum on his debut last year, carded five birdies and an eagle to move to eight under par for the tournament, one stroke behind Brand Jnr who starts his round on nine under par following an opening 63.
The American’s day could have been even better had it not been for a double bogey six on the 17th hole – his eighth after starting on the tenth tee – as a result of a loose iron shot which plugged in the bunker.
However a superb rescue club shot into four feet on the sixth hole – his 15th of the day - set up an eagle three to add to two birdies on the back nine, which gave him a share of the clubhouse lead with Australian Dave Merriman.
“I’ve played really well both days except for one hole in each round when I hit loose shots,” said Cunning. “I hit a bad tee shot on the 15th yesterday and then I didn’t hit a good iron into 17 and could only chop it out the bunker.
“The birdie on the 18th hole set me straight and after that I had a nice back nine, with a good eagle on six into the wind. It was quite foggy then and I couldn’t really see where I was hitting it so it was pleasing to get that close.
“I’m swinging really well and I’m not making many mistakes so I’m happy.”
Merriman fired a superb 65, which included eight birdies and just the one bogey on the 13th, to also move to eight under par for the tournament.
He said the key to his round was a fine performance on the greens which came as a result of some hard work on the practice putting green in recent weeks.
“I’d been having a bit of trouble starting my putts on line so I’ve worked on that and I was feeling more confident,” he said. “That was probably the best I’ve putted in two years. I was showing some good signs yesterday but I made everything today.
Merriman’s best Senior Tour finish came over a links course at Royal Porthcawl – where he will return to next week – when he finished runner up in last year’s Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open and he feels La Moye Golf Club suits his game.
“I grew up on courses like this in Australia and I like it when you can run the ball up a bit,” he said. “The greens here are very pure and the ball runs extremely true.”
Merriman’s fellow Australian Peter Fowler posted a 66 to move to seven under par alongside Englishman Kevin Spurgeon, who signed for a one under par 71.
