Despite feeling under the weather, Irish rookie Tom McKibbin brilliantly took to the overtaking lane to share second place heading to the weekend of the Porsche European Open in Hamburg.
McKibbin, 20, and contesting just his 26th DP World Tour event, superbly birdied the last in a round of a four-under 69 for a five-under-par tally and just a stroke behind German and overwhelming crowd favourite Max Kieffer, who remains in the lead in also signing for a day two 71 to move to six-under.
Despite feeling under the weather Tom McKibbin is just a shot off the lead heading to the weekend rounds of the Porsche European Open
McKibbin heads to golf’s traditional moving day tied with Scotland’s David Law ( 66) and England’s Jordan Smith (71) on the ultra-tough Green Eagle host course
Just 20 players are under par after the two rounds, and only three more than day one on the par-73 layout while the cut was made at a high four-over par reflecting the toughness of the lay-out.
McKibbin was out very late in the day picking-up four birdies in his opening nine holes and while dropping shot at the 10th he produced seven solid pars ahead of ending in holing a six-footer for a birdie ‘4’ on 18.
“I feel like the first two days have been a grind. The course is so difficult and I’ve been feeling a little under the weather as well, which hasn’t helped,” said McKibbin. “So, nice to put two nice rounds together.
“It’s really tough. Some of the tee shots and the length of the holes are crazy long. With the wind we’ve had the first two days it’s been extremely tricky, it definitely is a monster.
“It’s one of those courses where you have to stand up and hit good shots. You know it’s going to be tough. There’s probably not much expectation to go out and make lots of birdies. So in that sense it’s probably a bit easier, you’re not going for things and playing a little bit more safer golf and trying to keep the big numbers off the card.
“It was nice to get that birdie on the last. I let a couple slip by on the back nine, so it was nice to hole that putt at the last for birdie. I’m enjoying myself out here and taking it week-by-week. How can you not like it?”
Not so good news for Kinsale’s John Murphy missing the four-over cut by three shots with scores of 74 and 79.
