Sweden’s Eric Carlberg and Dane Nils Rorbaek from the Challenge Tour prevented the leading lights of the European Tour from dominating the leaderboard in the second round of the West of Ireland Classic at Galway Bay Golf and Country Club Hotel.
Carlberg, 24, shot a second round 67 to lead at halfway with a nine under par total of 135, one clear of Gary Evans and two ahead of three players, including another Challenge Tour regular in Rorbaek, who tagged a 70 on to his opening 67.
Evans, still seeking his first victory on the European Tour after seven years on the road, carved out a fighting 66 to take second place, while several of the big names were jostling for position near the top.
Ireland’s Paul McGinley joined Rorbaek and Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher on 137 while Padraig Harrington and Costantino Rocca – both in search of valuable Ryder Cup points – finished on 138, six under par.
Carlberg drew on the experience of finishing fourth in the Moroccan Open earlier this year and said: “I shared the lead in Morocco and was in the final group on the last day, so I know how it feels to be in contention. I enjoyed it and I hope I can learn from the experience.”
Evans, who created one of the most impressive course records of 1999 with a 62 in the German Open in Berlin, has gone through a lull since finishing ninth in that event in June.
He explained: “I had some problems with my arm and withdrew from Open qualifying and the Dutch Open. I got a bit panicky that it was an old wrist injury but it wasn’t. I am fine now.”
McGinley and Harrington both fell victim to the scourge of the modern game – mobile phones. McGinley stood at eight under on the 17th and was threatening the lead when a phone rang and caused him to miss a three footer for a par.
It was a philosophical McGinley who commented: “It’s part of modern day golf and you’ve got to put up with it. No excuses. You’ve got to deal with these things, but unfortunately it went off at precisely the wrong time.”
Harrington took a bogey on the par five sixth as another phone went off at the top of his backswing and his resulted duffed drive cost him a six. He is still right in contention – but the message from the two local heroes to their fan clubs was quite clear – leave the phone at home!
