Moynihan the sole Irish survivor in Turkish Airlines Challenge
Matthieu Pavon. Picture: Getty Images
Gavin Moynihan fired a three under 69 to make the cut with two shots to spare in the Turkish Airlines Challenge.
But as France’s Matthieu Pavon carded a stunning 64 to go two shots clear at the top in Belek, the rest of the Irish missed the cut.
Teenager David Carey shot a two under 70 and Gareth Shaw a second successive 72 to miss the cut by a shot on level par while Rosapenna’s Ruaidhri McGee bogeyed his last three holes for 76 that left him one two outside the mark on one over.
Headfort’s Brian Casey also missed out, posting a three over 75 to end up on two over.
Pavon, who finished tied fourth at the Challenge de Madrid last week, ended his second round with a flourish as he shot six birdies on the back nine to take his score to eight under par for the day and 12 under par overall.
Playing in the morning, the 23 year old enjoyed the best of the weather as Gloria Golf Club was bathed in sunshine for much of the day before an afternoon thunderstorm caused play to be suspended for half an hour, resuming in time for all players to complete their rounds.
“Conditions today were perfect for us,” he said. “Yesterday was different, we had a bit of a stormy day, but this morning it couldn’t have been better.
“The greens are good and there are definitely low scores to be made, but I’m feeling great about where I am right now.
“I feel like I’m playing better and better every day just now, and my putting was so good out there today, especially on the back nine – I was six under on the back nine and felt like I made every putt.”
Playing in just his fourth Challenge Tour event, Pavon’s main focus is to improve week by week as he came into this tournament in 17th place in the Road to Oman Rankings, just 400 points outside the top 15 who will earn European Tour cards at the end of the season.
“In Madrid, I was starting to play well and out here this week I’m playing even better than I did in Madrid.
“This is my first year on the Challenge Tour and I’m just trying to do my best, improve my game, and we will see what happens.”
Road to Oman Rankings leader Sebastian Soderbergh and Pavon’s compatriot Clément Sordet both shot four under par rounds of 68 to reach ten under par heading into the weekend.
Scores after round 2:
132 M Pavon (Fra) 68 64,
134 S Soderberg (Swe) 66 68, C Sordet (Fra) 66 68,
135 S Heisele (Ger) 68 67, N Geyger (Chi) 69 66, J Stalter (Fra) 66 69, O Farr (Wal) 69 66, A Rai (Eng) 66 69,
136 J Hahn (USA) 63 73, R Langasque (Fra) 67 69,
137 C Mivis (Bel) 67 70, L Gagli (Ita) 67 70, G Axell (Swe) 71 66, A Maestroni (Ita) 67 70, T Murray (Eng) 70 67, R Santos (Por) 66 71,
138 T Ferrer (Esp) 69 69, A Pavan (Ita) 70 68, C Arendell (USA) 70 68,
139 P Meow (Ger) 69 70, D Wright (Eng) 66 73, J Dantorp (Swe) 74 65, G Drakeford (Aus) 69 70, P Melching (am) (Ned) 70 69, M Helligkilde (am) (Den) 70 69,
140 D Foos (Ger) 69 71, B Stow (Eng) 72 68, W Harrold (Eng) 67 73, M Schneider (Ger) 71 69, S Fallon (Eng) 68 72, C Russo (Fra) 70 70, E Ferguson (am) (Sao) 70 70,
141 S Arnold (Aus) 70 71, A Karlsson (Swe) 69 72, E Dubois (Fra) 69 72, M Armitage (Eng) 70 71, A Korinek (Cze) 71 70, J Guerrier (Fra) 72 69, J Girobach (Sui) 72 69, Gavin Moynihan (Irl) 72 69, S Fernandez (Esp) 69 72, G Watremez (Bel) 71 70, J Lando Casanova (Fra) 73 68, T Remkes (Ned) 74 67, J Glennemo (Swe) 73 68, F Bergamaschi (Ita) 69 72, T Tree (Eng) 71 70, M Wiegele (Aut) 72 69,
142 J Smith (Eng) 69 73, T Pulkkanen (Fin) 70 72, A Tadini (Ita) 73 69, D Stewart (Sco) 70 72, E Kemaloglu (Tur) 74 68, D Coupland (Eng) 72 70, B Neil (Sco) 72 70, E Johansen (Nor) 68 74, R Saxton (Ned) 70 72, D Perrier (Fra) 71 71, W Besseling (Ned) 69 73, D Van Driel (Ned) 70 72,
143 G Porteous (Eng) 70 73, R Kellett (Sco) 73 70, J Mullen (Eng) 68 75, A Chesters (Eng) 76 67, J Loughrey (Eng) 68 75, N Kimsey (Eng) 71 72, A Velasco (Esp) 73 70, J Lara (Esp) 69 74, M Lampert (Ger) 73 70, S Hutsby (Eng) 72 71, C Del Moral (Esp) 69 74,
CUT (143)
144 P Angles (Esp) 73 71, S Connor (Eng) 73 71, D Lloyd (RSA) 74 70, K Samooja (Fin) 70 74, J McDonald (Sco) 74 70, M Hocaoglu (Tur) 69 75, D Løkke (Den) 73 71, H McCullen (Eng) 69 75, M Laufeber (Ned) 71 73, David Carey (Irl) 74 70, A Knappe (Ger) 74 70, J Makitalo (Fin) 71 73, M Ortolani (Ita) 74 70, E Cuartero Blanco (Esp) 72 72, Gareth Shaw (Nir) 72 72, G Forrest (am) (Sco) 68 76,
145 H Joannes (Bel) 74 71, P Maddy (Eng) 70 75, C Gloet (Den) 74 71, Ruaidhri McGee (Irl) 69 76, D Ulrich (Sui) 72 73, J Van Der Vaart (Ned) 70 75, D Law (Sco) 74 71, P Whiteford (Sco) 75 70, G Woolgar (Eng) 70 75, O Stark (Swe) 73 72, S Tiley (Eng) 73 72, T Bakker (Fin) 73 72,
146 J Barnes (Eng) 73 73, S Hodgson (Eng) 73 73, P Widegren (Swe) 70 76, P Shields (Sco) 72 74, A Björk (Swe) 72 74, F Calmels (Fra) 74 72, C Koerbler (Aut) 76 70, M Palmer (RSA) 70 76, Brian Casey (Irl) 71 75, R Roussel (Fra) 71 75,
147 L Tintera (Cze) 75 72, F Colombo (Ita) 72 75, E Blom (Sie) 75 72, D Huizing (Ned) 74 73, S Einhaus (Ger) 75 72, S Forsstrom (Swe) 71 76, C Ford (Eng) 70 77, S Brown (Eng) 72 75, M Rominger (Sui) 72 75, M Simonsen (Den) 76 71, J Doherty (Sco) 69 78, A Altuntas (am) (Tur) 73 74, J Shim (am) (Tur) 76 71,
148 P Figueiredo (Por) 71 77, J Sjöholm (Swe) 76 72, D Bransdon (Aus) 72 76, B Rusch (Sui) 75 73, T Gorki (Slo) 73 75, K Johannessen (Nor) 75 73,
149 A Hartø (Den) 75 74, S Kim (USA) 76 73,
150 M Trappel (Aut) 76 74, R Kind (Ned) 76 74,
151 M Keskari (Ger) 78 73,
152 P Relecom (Bel) 77 75,
153 J Allan (Eng) 76 77, P Howard (Eng) 75 78, B Karates (Tur) 78 75,
154 S Bay (Tur) 79 75, H Sayin (Tur) 75 79, H Yamac (Tur) 73 81,
155 A Waddell (Eng) 80 75, V Riu (Fra) 77 78,
156 N Quintarelli (Ita) 75 81, S Piaget (Mon) 79 77,
157 D Suchan (Cze) 84 73, B Kara (Tur) 75 82, C Kaya (Tur) 81 76,
158 R Duman (Tur) 76 82, P Dedek (Cze) 79 79, L Acikalin (am) (Tur) 80 78,
160 L Ruuska (Fin) 80 80,
161 D Senay (Tur) 83 78, P Valasek (Svk) 83 78, U Karatas (Tur) 85 76, K Varli (am) (Tur) 84 77,
** H Casey (Eng) 76 RT.
