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New Zealand’s Ryan Fox remains in title fight at the Irish Open despite a one-over second round.
Overnight leader Ryan Fox dropped from the points table at the Irish Open after a knockout second round on Friday (Saturday NZT) at Thomastown.
After shooting a breathtaking, spotless eight-under 64 in the opening round of the DP World Cup at Mount Juliet to keep a one-shot lead, the Aucklander had a day to forget when he hit a one- over 73 carded to drop. tied for 11th.
Nevertheless, Fox remains firmly in the title fight, four strokes behind Spaniard Jorge Campillo, who leads the way at 11-under after a four-under second round.
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Poland’s Adrian Meronk is in second place with Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti.
Fox made a promising start to the day when he got the opening hole birdies, only to follow it up with a bogey on the next pin and two more on the sixth and seventh holes in a scratchy forehand.
The 35-year-old then got the 569-yard par-5 10th birdie to pull back to par, but another bogey on the 13th took him to one over for the day and he could only make the remaining five holes parried to end with a one-over 73.
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Kiwi men No.1 were surprised by his brilliant start to the Irish Open.
Fox, who lost a play-off match for the 2018 Irish Open against Scotland’s Russell Knox, are chasing their third victory at the DP World Cup.
The in-form Kiwi won the Ras Al Khaimah Classic in February, finished runner-up in the Soudal Open and Dutch Open and finished third in the BMW International on Sunday.
World no. 56 Fox is looking for a fourth top-four finish in its last six items.
Meanwhile, home favorite Shane Lowry has completed a tribunal to make the cut after getting his last four holes for a second round of 70 birdies.
The 2019 British Open champion rounded off a brilliant fightback effort by running down the 18th from 20 feet to the delight of the large crowds.
At three down, Lowry is eight strokes off the pace as he wants to win the event for a second time. He famously lifted the title as an amateur in 2009.
There was a tie for fourth place, including Lowry’s playmate and compatriot Seamus Power. Power beat the last birdie in a second consecutive 68 to leave him 8 under par, three behind leader Campillo.
Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington joined Lowry to make the cut at 3 thanks to a brilliant finish. The newly crowned U.S. Senior Open champion followed a double bogey on the seventh – his 16th hole – with birdies on the eighth and ninth.
– With AP