Whelan five clear at halfway in Munster Strokeplay

Jake Whelan holds a five-shot lead at halfway in the Munster Men's Stroke Play Championship at Cork Golf Club.

The Grange golfer carded rounds of 64 and 69 to lead on 11-under par from Westport’s Harry Gillivan.

Whelan was nine-under through 16 holes in round one before dropping his only shot of the morning at the 17th.

He started his second round with eight consecutive pars, but made four birdies in his last ten holes before dropping his only shot of the afternoon at the 18th.

Gillivan leads the chasing pack on six-under after rounds of 68 and 70 with Castleknock’s Paul Couglan two shots further back after a pair of 70s.

Cork’s Gary O’Flaherty and Fermoy’s Dean O’Riordan are tied for fourth on four-under with Woodbrook’s Tom Dowdall, whose second round of 67 wasn’t bettered.

Just eight players are under par going into Sunday’s final two rounds.

Scores