In improved conditions yesterday, following Thursday’s strong wind and rain, Royal Jersey’s Gavin O’Neill shot to the top of the leaderboard after a level-par 72.
His two-round total of 152 gives him a one-stroke lead over club colleagues Paul Le Chevalier, the current champion, and Christy McLaughlin.
Le Chevalier yesterday returned a 74 and McLaughlin 75.
Jerseyman O’Neill was out in a one-over-par 37 before returning in a one-under score of 35.
He had birdies at the third, seventh, tenth, 11th and 16th while he had a double-bogey at the second and bogeys at the sixth, 13th and 15th.
Former Royal Jersey champion Gary Denton, rounds of 80 on Thursday and 75 yesterday, is in fourth place on 155.
Father-and-son Geoff and Richard Ramskill are a further stroke behind while fellow La Moye golfer Richard Alker is on 158 after a 76 yesterday.
Royal Jersey’s Matthew Parkman, who led after the first 18 holes, slipped back to joint-eighth following a round of 83.
Richard Ramskill and juniors Piers de Gruchy and Gyles Robin all returned one-over-par 73s – excellent scores from the teenagers, particularly from Robin as he is a member at Royal Jersey.
Eighteen-year-old de Gruchy (159) and 16-year-old Robin (161) both had three birdies.
Eighteen players compete in the final 36 holes today.
The others are Trevor Gray and Bob Wickings (both on 160), Richard Williamson (161), Stuart Crossan (162), Andy Boxall (165) and Anton Swemmer, Andy Clarke and Matthew Sargeant (all 166).
Robin won the 36-hole handicap individual prize with a score of 147 (81 and 66) while the 36-hole Team scratch and handicaps prizes went to Royal Jersey’s Team One of Paul Le Chevalier, Gavin O’Neill and Christy McLaughlin.
Their scratch score was 458 and their net score, incredibly, four strokes higher because of their low handicaps.
