PAUL DUNNE MUST be wondering what all the fuss is about.
The 22-year-old continued to impress on his professional debut as he carded a second round 70 at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to remain in contention for one of the European Tour’s most lucrative events.
Dunne sits just one shot off the lead, which is held by fellow rookie Jimmy Mullen, after a solid return to the scene of his Open heroics at St Andrews.
The rookies began the second day tied for the lead at eight under and Mullen once again held top spot – alongside the fast-finishing Anthony Wall – when Friday’s play drew to a close, with Dunne a shot back in joint-third.
A round of 69 at St Andrews lifted Mullen to eleven- under for the tournament, which is played over three venues with the nearby Kingsbarns and Carnoustie also utilised.
Wall went one better around the Old Course, thanks largely to a run of four birdies in succession from the fourth after he had started on the 10th, while Jamie Donaldson and Chris Stroud took advantage of Kingsbarns’ somewhat friendlier set-up to shoot 65 and 66 respectively – putting both men alongside Dunne.
Garth Mulroy holds sole possession of seventh at nine-under, with a host of big names – including Martin Kaymer (-8), Branden Grace (-7) and Graeme McDowell (-7) – also handily placed.
Mullen, Wall and Dunne, who memorably contended at the Open earlier this year, all face the challenge of playing their third rounds at Carnoustie, which has proven the most testing venue so far.
“There’s a comfort level of playing on links courses and once you get out there it does not matter if you are an amateur or a pro,” Dunne said.
“There is still a golf ball sitting in front of you that needs to be hit.
“I’m really not thinking about the money. The money will take care of itself. If I keep playing good golf I won’t have to worry about money. It would be nice to get a payday at the end of the week, but we won’t find that out until Sunday evening.”
