Drummond, Drysdale, Ramsay, Macaulay make the cut

'Chilled out' Michael Hoey leads Madeira

Islands Open after 66 for 135

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE

A new "chilled out" attitude helped Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey continue his bid for a first European Tour title today.
The 30-year-old former British Amateur champion, pictured, added a five-under-par 66 to his opening 69 to reach halfway on seven under par 135 at the Madeira Islands Open BPI-Portugal on Porto Santo.

At the halfway stage Hoey is one ahead of three players, former Ryder Cup Swede Joakim Haeggman (70-136), Irishman Michael McGeady (67-136) and, from Argentina, Estanislao Goya (68-136).

Back in 2001 and just 21 at the time, Hoey followed his win in the British amateur championship at Tuwith an 11th place finish in the Scottish Open, then helped a Walker Cup team, also featuring Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell and Nick Dougherty, to victory in America.
They have all gone on to taste Tour success, but since missing the cut at the 2002 Masters by a single stroke Hoey has made six trips to the qualifying school.
Last November was the first time he came through it, but two months ago he was joint second behind Retief Goosen in the Africa Open and now is hoping to go one better.
"I'm taking a more relaxed view and it's paying off so far," he told European Tour Radio. "You can put yourself under too much pressure in this game and I just told myself to chill out basically."
Haeggman and Irishman Damien McGrane were the overnight leaders, but McGrane double-bogeyed the short fifth in his 72 to drop back to fifth place on 138.
Compatriot Michael McGeady, like Hoey a winner on last season's Challenge Tour, had moved into third place on five under par with nine holes remaining, while McGrane was in the clubhouse on four under along with Carlos Rodiles.
The Spaniard was round in 65, but that stood as a course record for the new Seve Ballesteros lay-out for only a few minutes as England's Richard Bland improved 14 strokes on his opening 78 to get back to level par.

SCOTSWATCH: Only four of the 10 Scottish entries survived the cut which fell at four-over-par 148. Callum Macaulay, glad to get back on the European Tour after a "holiday" he did not want, made it right on the deadline with a pair of 74s. Scott Drummond is the leading Scot with a pair f 71s for 142. David Drysdale also had a pair, of 72s, for 144 and Richie Ramsay made it with a shot to spare with 73-74 for 147.

Scots who failed included Steven O'Hara by a single shot with 74 for 149; Andrew Coltart who sagged to a 76 for 150 and Graham Gordon who deteriorated by five shots to a 79 for 153.

Full marks to former Scottish amateur champion George Murray for slashing 11 shots off his dismal Day 1 effort with a 72 but, of course, 153 was always going to be plenty over the cut-off paoint.

Peter Whiteford, who also saddled himself with a first-round 83, had a 77 for 160 while Chris Doak will be bitterly disappointed that he could do no better than 79-82 for 161

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