As the field in the Ladbrokes Irish PGA gets underway this Friday morning at The European Club the four members of Fore Ireland team have another days work ahead at the challenging Co Wicklow course having all made the cut yesterday.

With the overnight leadership changing, Dundalk’s Leslie Walker sets out later in the day in second place, after a 72 yesterday, alongside Padraig Harrington who now leads after a second round of 70. With a tee off time of 11:45 this pairing may face the worst of the weather with heavy rain forecast over the east coast for the afternoon.

On the FORE Ireland side, Mark Staunton came into the clubhouse with the best team score to hold on to joint 15th place with Ian Kerr. His three birdies and five bogeys saw the Galway man come home with 38 and 35 to register 73 shots for the day.

In joint 21st place on 9 over are Cork duo, Ted Higgins and Mick Collins, who set off in consecutive pairings today just after 10 am both hoping to improve on yesterday’s round which saw Ted register a double bogey on the third with no birdies for a 76. For Collins the worst of the damage came from two double bogeys and with only 1 birdie he had a 78 for the day.

The toughest FORE Ireland battle came the way of David Mortimer who with an 80 recorded 9 pars and 9 bogeys seeing him slip six shots in the second round, following his 74 on Wednesday.

David Mortimer is the first of the FORE Ireland team to tee off in Round 3 and sets off shortly after nine alongside Ashbourne’s John Dwyer.