Scotsman Peter Whiteford assumed control of the Ireland Ryder Cup Challenge after a second round of five under par 67 left the 24 year old on a halfway aggregate of 12 under par 132 – two strokes clear of his compatriot Marc Warren and England’s Denny Lucas – at the European Challenge Tour tournament at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club.
Whiteford has yet top drop a stroke in Ireland and his consistency and improved putting stroke have been the key to his excellent performance so far in Killarney. He sank five birdie putts during the second round as he moved to the head of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the €130,000 event.
The Scot, who has won twice on the third level Europro Tour, is currently 79th on the Challenge Tour Rankings and is hoping for a maiden Challenge Tour victory this weekend which would invigorate his season and put him into the running for a place in the top 20 of the end of season Rankings, that guarantees a place on The 2006 European Tour.
“The conditions were a bit tougher than yesterday – it was a bit windier today but the greens are still holding so it wasn’t that bad,” said Whiteford. “I have been playing well, just not scoring that great which can be frustrating when you are playing well but getting nothing out of your round. But I got a putting lesson from a friend of mine back at Ladybank Golf Club in Scotland last week and it has helped me a lot.
“I changed something in my alignment, but it has helped a lot and I am rolling the ball a lot better. I’m swinging well and the putting is coming along nicely so things are going well so far this week. I haven’t dropped a shot in two rounds either and that is obviously making a big difference as well.
“Finishing in the top 20 on the Rankings is everyone’s goal out here. If you’ve not got that in your mind then you may as well stay at home. Realistically, I would be happy to finish in the top 45 because that would guarantee me a full Challenge Tour card for nest season. At the moment I am in Category ten, which doesn’t get me into the bigger events on the Schedule that are really like Majors for us, but if I could win here then I would have a chance of getting on Tour next season.”
Lucas and Warren are in the same position as the man they are pursuing – both looking for that first Challenge Tour win that would propel them into contention for a place on The European Tour international Schedule next season.
Both men carded their second consecutive rounds of 67 to get to ten under par at the halfway stage, with Warren almost holing his drive at the 271 yard par four third hole for what would have an unbelievable albatross. The 24 year old had to settle for an eagle two after his drive came to rest just three feet from the cup.
That took him to three under for his second round and he added a further five birdies and three dropped shots to move into second place. Lucas soon joined him after a flawless second round that included five solid birdies.
Overnight leader Roope Kakko of Finland could not recapture the blistering form that saw him shoot 63 on the opening day of the tournament, but a solid level par 72 kept him very much in contention on nine under par, while Scotsman Greig Hutcheon and the English duo of Shaun Webster and Matthew Woods are a further shot behind.
Sixty three professionals and one Amateur – Ireland’s own Aaron O’Callaghan – made the halfway cut of one under par 143.
