Spain’s Jorge Campillo moved to the top of the Irish Open leaderboard after Friday’s second round.
The world No 350 carded 68 after his opening-round 65 to reach 11 under par, one shot ahead of Poland’s Adrian Meronk and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti.
Thriston Lawrence is the highest-placed South African on six under (T15) followed by Oliver Bekker on five under (T22).
“I played great over the last two days, so I can’t complain,” Campillo said. “It’s going to be a hard weekend, but if I can keep putting the ball in play off the tee and hit good irons like I’ve been doing, it will be a good weekend, I think.”
Ireland’s Shane Lowry looked set for an early exit until he birdied his last four holes for a second round of 70.
The former Open champion rounded off a brilliant fightback by holing from 20 feet on the 18th to the delight of the crowd.
“It was pretty cool. To be honest, I’d almost half resigned myself to the fact that I was going home, packing my bags,” Lowry said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever birdied the last four to make the cut, so that’s a first, and I’m just happy to be in the weekend.
“Everybody knows how much this tournament means to me and how much I want to be here.”
At three under par, Lowry is eight shots off the pace as he seeks to win the event for a second time. The 35-year-old lifted the trophy as an amateur in 2009.
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Lowry’s compatriot Seamus Power also birdied the last for a second consecutive 68 to leave him eight under par, three behind leader Campillo.
Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington joined Lowry in making the cut on three under.
“It’s nice when I can make the birdies,” Harrington said after his round of 71.
© Agence France-Presse
