BRADLEY Dredge maintained his challenge for the Irish Open despite a disappointing second round at Adare Manor.
The Welshman, beaten in a play-off for the title by Padraig Harrington 12 months ago, returned a one over par 73 to add to his opening 68 for a three under par aggregate of 141 at the halfway mark.
That left him three strokes adrift of the leader, Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera.
Starting at the 10th, Dredge reeled off eight straight pars and then eagled the 18th – his ninth – to move to six under and the top of the leaderboard. A birdie at the first put him in even better shape before four bogeys in the final eight holes halted his progress.
Dredge will be joined for the weekend by Stuart Manley, who returned a level par 72 yesterday to stand at one under and in good shape to pick up his best cheque of the season.
The only other Welshman to make the cut was Stephen Dodd after a solid round of 71 left him at one over.
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