Max Orrin has local hero potential at McGregor Trophy halfway

FROM THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Max Orrin is adopting the role of local hero as he lies just two strokes off the pace at the halfway stage of the McGregor Trophy, supported by FootJoy, after another testing day at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent, highlighted by a hole-in-one.
Orrin, who lives just half an hour away from Sandwich, fired a second round 71, one of just five sub-par returns, for 143 but Matthias Schwab from Austria continues to head the leaderboard on three-under-par 141 after a 72.
The weather played a major role in the day’s proceedings, especially the wind which was non-existent in the early stages but which grew in intensity prior to lunch and ebbed and flowed in the afternoon allied to a spell of rain.
The early starters certainly benefited and that included Orrin, who was out in the third game at 7.40am. “We got the best of the conditions because there was no wind early on but it was a bit tricky after the 12th when it came into play a bit,” he observed.
“But I played my best golf of the week. My game was solid, I drove most fairways, hit a lot of greens and managed to find four birdies.”
Having got up at 5am to make his tee time, Orrin then returned to his North Foreland home to relax and catch up on his sleep.
He would probably have dozed off before Schwab posted his level-par 72 to stay ahead. “It was not as good as I wanted but my round wasn’t too bad,” said the 15 year old Austrian boy international.
“It was windy when we started but had calmed a lot at the end. Luckily the rain didn’t start before we finished,” he added.
“To win this title would mean a lot to me. It is one of the best championships for under 16s in Europe but I’m not getting ahead of myself as there is still a lot of golf to play.”
The English challenge was maintained by the Sussex duo of Toby Tree and Josh Hayes, who share third place on level par 144.
Tree, the 2008 English under 14 champion from Worthing, bounced back with a five-birdie 70 after covering both nines in 35 but was not happy with his putting.
“I didn’t hole many putts. If a few more start dropping it will be a lot better,” he admitted before heading for the practice green.
Alongside him on 144 is Hayes from East Sussex National, who was disappointed with his two-over 74, which contained three birdies.
Among those on 146 is James Newton from Prestbury, who sank his six-iron tee shot at the 167-yard 11th hole in a round of 71.
It was his first ‘ace’ and the 15 year old member of the Cheshire under 18 team said: “I needed something to make my round catch fire.
“But the ball was always on the flag. I just hoped it would clear the bunker and it did.”
His achievement didn’t affect him. In fact, it proved a boost as he proceeded to birdie the long 12th in an inward 34.
The 36-hole cut came at 151, seven over par, with 48 players qualifying for the final two rounds.
The Nations Cup, decided over the first two rounds, resulted in an emphatic victory for England 1 on 286 with England 2 on 293 and Ireland 2 and Spain 1 on 296.

SCOREBOARD
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
141 Matthias Schwab (Austria) 69 72.
143 Max Orrin (North Foreland) 72 71.
144 Toby Tree (worthing) 74 70, Josh Hayes (East Sussex) 70 74.
146 Pablo Matesanz (Spain) 76 70, James Newton (Prestbury) 75 71, Harrison Woan (Overstone) 73 73, Jamie Savage (Cawder) 73 73, Robert Burrison (Oxley Park) 72 74, Matthew Pearson (Worlebury) 72 74.
Other Scots scores:
148 Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) 72 76 (jt 17th).
150 Cameron Farrell (Cardross) 75 75 (jt 32nd).
151 James Steven (Kirkhill) 74 77, Anthony Blaney (Liberton) 74 77 (jt 39th).
MISSED THE CUT (151 or better)
152 Alasdair McDougall (Elderslie) 77 74 (jt 49th).
154 Lawrence Allan (Alva) 77 77 (jt 65th).
158 Alexander Wilson (Gullane0 76 82 (jt 97th).