Finland's Mikko Ilonen has maintained his lead at the Irish golf Open in Cork, adding a two-under-par 68 to his opening-round course-record 64 to move to ten under par.
Three players, former US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland (66), England's Robert Rock (66) and Frenchman Romain Wattel (65) share second place on eight under.
McDowell is looking to win the Irish Open for a first occasion in his career while Rock has been runner-up twice before including losing out in a play-off to Ireland's then amateur Shane Lowry in 2009.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy has just one further tournament to regroup ahead of next month's British Open after missing the cut.
The double golf major winner produced a roller-coaster second round of a two under par 69 to fall one shot shy of playing all four rounds on the Fota Island Resort course.
It is the second Irish Open in succession McIlroy has missed the cut and he will now have a fortnight off, including practice rounds at Royal Liverpool, the venue for the year's major, before teeing up on July 10th Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen.
