Dier moves one clear at halfway

Tobias Dier posted a four-under 68 on Friday to grab the halfway lead at 10-under-par 134 at the North West of Ireland Open at the Slieve Russell Hotel Golf and Country Club. He has a one-shot lead over Stephen Dodd and is two ahead of Robert Jan Derksen.

The start of Friday's first round was delayed for 90 minutes due to heavy morning fog but all players were able to complete their round.

Dier, who started on the 10th, picked up a pair of birdies and one bogey but caught fire in the middle of his second nine.

He hit a nine-iron to six feet at the 167-yard, par-three fourth to set up birdie and followed with a seven-iron approach that nearly landed in the hole at the fifth to give him back-to-back birdies. Dier birdied No. 6 to make it three in a row and give him his first 36-hole lead in his European Tour career.

"I didn’t play well the first 12 holes," said Dier. "I thought I had lost my rhythm over the 16th, 17th, 18th and the first three holes of the front nine. But then, I made one good shot and thought that’s it. I was hitting it much better and made three birdies on the trot."

Dier may have never held the halfway lead on tour before but he has experience leading this tournament. He was ahead with eight holes to play in Sunday's final round last year after he established the course record of 65 in round three.

"This is a new experience," said Dier, who ended up losing last year by three shots to Massimo Scarpa. "I’m very much looking forward to it. I’ve taken the smallest tournament first. It’s not like leading the British Open after two days but we will see."

Dodd mixed seven birdies and three bogeys in his four-under 68 on Friday. The Welshman currently stands 124th on the Order of Merit and a good tournament this week could help him earn his card for next year.

"Getting the card is the aim every week," said Dodd. "Just need to finish as high as I can. Today I did things right, kept the ball in play and a 68 it was."

Derksen could be in a tie for second but he three-putted his 18th hole from 18 feet. The 27-year-old from the Challenge Tour posted a 68 on Friday to finish at minus-eight.

"That was bad at the end," he said. "I hit my third where I wanted it but the first putt was bad and ran three feet past and I missed the putt back. Other than that I played well. I struggled a bit with the drives but got away with it."

Overnight leader Jesus Maria Arruti managed an even-par 72 in the second round and shares fourth place with Mark Pilkington, James Hepworth and Mattias Eliasson.

The 36-hole cut fell at even-par 144 and defending champion Scarpa will not be around on the weekend. He carded a two-over 74 on Friday and missed the cut by two strokes.

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