Ilonen maintains two-shot lead

mikkoilonen

The Finn shot a course-record 64 on Thursday and, although he could not quite match that achievement on day two, he carded a three-under round to maintain his advantage over the chasing pack.

Ilonen, a three-time European Tour victor, birdied five holes of the course at the Fota Island Resort, including on three of the last four, although dropped shots on the 12th and 17th cost him a greater lead.

Three men are tied for second, two shots behind, as the trio of Robert Rock, Graeme McDowell and Romain Wattel all made ground on the Finn.

Rock and McDowell both followed their opening-day rounds of 68 by shooting 66 on Friday, while Wattel's 65 was the joint lowest score of the day, along with Matthew Nixon (seven under) and Gareth Maybin (six under).

Marcel Siem, Robert Karlsson and Magnus A Carlsson were tied for second after the first day's play, but all three fell away on Friday.

Carlsson's level-par score saw him drop five shots off the pace, while Siem is now eight back after a 74 and Karlsson 10 off the lead and seemingly out of contention after shooting 76.

Ilonen, meanwhile, was pleased with his day's work but insisted there was still a lot to do.

"I got to my goal - I wanted to get to double digits," he said.

"I got there on 16 but then I lost it on 17, so it was good to birdie the last hole. I wanted to get to at least 10 under, and I just did that. 

"I said yesterday, one shot at a time, one hole at a time. It's a long week, but two rounds of golf, it's a long way from here. (I've) got to keep the head down and go one shot at a time."

Author(s)