Japan’s Seiji Ebihara had to forfeit his overnight lead to Scotland’s Mike Miller on day two of the Senior Irish Open at Adare Manor & Golf Resort but the defending champion remains very much in contention, the same could also be said of Clare-born Joe McDermott.
Miller, 51, who only joined the senior tour last year, fired the low round of the day 67 in the €310,000 event to lead by one shot on seven-under from Ebihara and McDermott. Christy O’Connor Jnr also pleased the home crowds when his 68 moved him to within four shots of Miller’s target.
A repeated sequence of par-birdie for the first eight holes followed by another birdie at the ninth told the story of a desirable front nine for Miller who turned in five-under 31. It took the Scot to seven-under and from there he consolidated his efforts with two birdies and two bogeys to cover the back nine in level par.
McDermott, who is now based in Florida, carded a second successive 69, today’s round was helped by a run of four birdies from the sixth. Ebihara’s 72 didn’t have nearly as much excitement as yesterday’s 66 but it leaves the 53-year-old in a strong position to emulate his Powerscourt success from 12 months ago.
O’Connor, who is touring pro for the resort, was the only player in the top 10 who managed to keep a bogey off his card. The blemish-free round left the Galwayman in a tie for eighth on three-under alongside England’s Denis Durnian (69) and compatriot David Jones (69).
Denis O’Sullivan had featured so prominently yesterday but the Kerry pro couldn’t match his opening 68 and instead dropped back to one-under with today’s 75.
The pre-tournament favourite Bruce Fleisher failed to deliver the goods for the second day running. The American improved on yesterday’s round by one shot with a 73, however, at three-over he must surely be too far back to challenge.
Although Miller has put himself into prime position going into the final round, what remains to be seen is how the relative newcomer will cope with so many established names from the senior circuit breathing down his neck come tomorrow.