Shubhankar Sharma and Jordan Smith share the halfway lead at the Irish Open on 13 under par as a costly double bogey at the 17th left Rory McIlroy eight shots off the lead.
Overnight leader Sharma was seven under for his second round through nine holes. But the Indian was one over on the back nine for a 66.
“I had nine single putts which was amazing, I don’t think I’ve done that before,” said Sharma.
“Everything was just flowing nicely, I was hitting it in the right spots and was really good inside 10 feet so it all came together.”
Englishman Smith raced to the top of the leaderboard with eight birdies in his first 15 holes before a double-bogey at the 17th spoiled an otherwise perfect round.
McIlroy was also left to rue a double-bogey at 17 after an eagle at 16 had brought him back into contention.
“I’m trying to think of the last time I made a double-bogey, it’s been a few months and I’ve prided myself on really limiting my mistakes,” McIlroy said after a posting a 70.
“That was one that obviously got away from me and I need a good one tomorrow to get myself back into it.”
England’s Ross Fisher is one shot off the lead, with Germany’s Hurly Long on 11 under.
Scotland’s Callum Hill is at 10 under after a 65 that included three eagles.
Thriston Lawrence is the best-placed South African, on seven under (T20), after a second-round 65 that included nine birdies and two bogies.
© Agence France-Presse
