A second consecutive 65 gave Ireland’s Stephen Browne a two stroke advantage over Argentina’s Martín Monguzzi at the halfway stage of the103 Abierto VISA de la Republica presentado por Peugeot.
 
The 34 year old from Dublin may be over 10,000 kilometres from home at Argentina’s National Open championship, but he feels that, given the similarities between the Hurlingham Golf Club in Buenos Aries and the Hermitage Golf Club in Ireland’s capital city, that he could be playing on home soil.
 
Browne’s performance over the first two rounds has been confident and assured, his second round of five under par in two days taking him to the top of the leaderboard, two strokes ahead of Monguzzi, three clear of Finland’s Antti Ahokas and four ahead of last week’s Challenge Tour winner, Estanislao Goya.
 
“I feel quite comfortable playing this course. It’s very similar to the one I play every day when I’m at home,” said Browne, who is looking to secure the third Challenge Tour  victory of his career in this, the fourth European Challenge Tour / Tour de las Americas co-sanctioned event of the 2008 season.
 
“When I came here I just couldn’t believe how similar the course, the rough and the greens are to the ones I’m used to – it’s definitely an advantage.”
 
David Higgins and Gareth Maybin joined Browne for the weekend action at Hurlingham, the Irish duo lying in a share of 14th spot on two under par.