Hoey lurking in Scottish Challenge

Scott Fernandez. Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Michael Hoey fired an immaculate 66 to lie just two shots off the lead at the halfway stage of the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels & Resorts. 

The 38-year old is tied for third on eight-under par after a five-birdie round and chasing Sweden's Mikael Lundberg, who shot a 65 to lead by one stroke from the overnight leader, Welshman Richard James (68).

The Island's Gavin Moynihan also shot 66 and is just three off the pace on seven under in a share of fifth with Dermot McElroy (71) on four under.

Neil O'Briain (67) two under and Ruaidhri McGee (69) level par, were the only other Irishmen to make the cut.

Scores after Round Two

132 M Lundberg (Swe) 67 65, 

133 R James (Wal) 65 68, 

134 Michael Hoey (Nir) 68 66, S Fernandez (Esp) 69 65, 

135 P Oriol (Esp) 67 68, R McEvoy (Eng) 70 65, Gavin Moynihan (Irl) 69 66, 

136 S Brown (Eng) 69 67, M Kinhult (Swe) 71 65, M Tullo (Chi) 70 66, 

137 J Senior (Eng) 68 69, J Heath (Eng) 72 65, N Møller (Den) 71 66, J Hansen (Den) 71 66, E Van Rooyen (RSA) 68 69, 

138 Dermot McElroy (Nir) 67 71, N Ravano (Ita) 71 67, M Iten (Sui) 75 63, N Cullen (Aus) 71 67, M Ford (Eng) 69 69, A Rai (Eng) 70 68, J Dantorp (Swe) 69 69, J McDonald (Sco) 72 66, S Forsström (Swe) 71 67, 

139 C Griffiths (Eng) 72 67, L Gagli (Ita) 73 66, M Lafeber (Ned) 70 69, A Meronk (Pol) 71 68, E Goya (Arg) 71 68, 

140 M Madsen (Den) 70 70, J Doherty (Sco) 70 70, M Ovesen (Den) 74 66, M Nixon (Eng) 73 67, Neil O'Briain (Irl) 73 67, J Girrbach (Sui) 71 69, N Johansson (Swe) 72 68, V Riu (Fra) 69 71, 

141 J McLeary (Sco) 74 67, M Orrin (Eng) 72 69, M Lampert (Ger) 73 68, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 70 71, C Ford (Eng) 69 72, R Saxton (Ned) 75 66, B Eccles (Aus) 73 68, R McCarthy (Aus) 75 66, F Laporta (Ita) 74 67, P Widegren (Swe) 74 67, V Perez (Fra) 71 70, 

142 B Hafthorsson (Isl) 73 69, D Kay (Sco) 74 68, A Connelly (Can) 72 70, G Forrest (Sco) 74 68, C Koepka (USA) 74 68, J Ross (Sco) 74 68, Ruaidhri McGee (Irl) 73 69, K Samooja (Fin) 72 70, 

143 M Schwab (Aut) 73 70, N Geyger (Chi) 75 68, E Cuartero Blanco (Esp) 76 67, D Fox (Aus) 73 70, D Van Driel (Ned) 72 71, A Wennstam (Swe) 72 71, S Soderberg (Swe) 75 68, J Sarasti (Esp) 74 69, J Rutherford (Eng) 71 72, M Wiegele (Aut) 74 69, J Brun (Fra) 75 68, L Canter (Eng) 71 72, M Haastrup (Den) 73 70, O Farr (Wal) 72 71, S Henry (Sco) 73 70, 

CUT (143 +1)

144 Cormac Sharvin (Nir) 77 67, Chris Selfridge (Nir) 71 73, 

147 Gary Hurley (Irl) 79 68,

149 Kevin Phelan (Irl) 76 73

from News - Irish Golf Desk http://ift.tt/2sqeEYo