Golf: Fever can't halt red-hot McLeary's challenge

JAMIE McLEARY, who lives in Edinburgh and is attached to Marriott Dalmahoy, set out today trying to close in on a second success on the European Challenge Tour.

The former Scottish amateur star, who won last year's Scottish Hydro Challenge at Spey Valley, shrugged off illness to storm to the top of the leaderboard on day two of the Turkish Airlines Challenge at Carya Golf Club.

McLeary added a round of 67 to his opening 69 to move to eight under, one shot clear of Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera and England's Sam Walker.

That was all the more remarkable as he had considered withdrawing from the 150,000 tournament, the first Challenge Tour event to be played on European soil this season, due to a lingering fever.

McLeary reached the turn on two under after his only bogey of the tournament at the ninth but six birdies in a blistering back nine of 30 saw him surge through the field at Belek, Turkey.

McLeary, who finished in 24th place in the rankings last season, said: "I hit it close on a few of the early holes but didn't make the putts, and then when I found water on the ninth I didn't think it was going to be my day.

"But then I hit a good wedge shot for a birdie on the 10th, and I was up and running. My putting's probably the best part of my game, so I knew that if I kept hitting it close there was a fair chance I'd take a few of the chances that came my way, and that's how it worked out.

"I'm pretty pleased with how I'm playing, especially considering I've been struggling with a fever for the last week or so.

"On Wednesday I seriously considered pulling out of the Pro-Am, because I was still feeling so bad. But then I started feeling better yesterday, and today was much better again."

Among seven players who share fifth place are joint overnight leader Raymond Russell, who endured a frustrating day with a round of 71.

Meanwhile, Dunbar's David Drysdale was handily placed going into today's third round of the Spanish Open in Seville.

The leading Scot on last year's Race to Dubai, Drysdale hasn't yet fired on all cylinders this season but a second-round 67 moved him to seven-under, just three shots off the lead at the halfway stage.

Richie Ramsay, the Lothians-based player who was top Scot after the first round, slipped back to three-under after a 72.

In total, nine Scots made the cut, including Bathgate's Stephen Gallacher, who produced a spectacular recovery with a 68 after an opening 76 had left him way off the pace.

On the amateur circuit, former Lothians champion Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) shot a 78 in the opening round of the Lytham Trophy.