SIMON DYSON’S bid to defend golf’s Irish Open title stalled during the second round of the European Tour event.
Following a sublime opening round of 67, which left him right in the hunt, the 34-year-old endured a frustrating day on the famous Royal Portrush links in Northern Ireland – following up with a level par 72.
It was an effort which dropped him towards the middle of the pack and seven shots off the pace of leader Gregory Bourdy.
Paired with crowd favourites Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington, the York-born player got off to a solid start with a birdie at the second hole. But he gave that shot away, and more, when recording an ugly double bogey at the par-three third.
A birdie at the ninth saw him go to the turn in a level 36 shots and it looked like he could once again be on the charge when picking up further birdies at the tenth and 13th.
But two bogeys in the final three holes – dropped shots at 16 and 18 – pegged back his progress and left him tied for 24th spot at the half-way stage of the two million euro event.
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