Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - Day two digest
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Everything you need to know from day two in Scotland.
Richard Mansell withstood brutal weather conditions at the Old Course to post a second-round 68 and open up a two-shot halfway lead at the 2022 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Here is everything you need to know from day two in Scotland.
Mansell defies conditions to go low
England's Mansell produced one of the standout rounds of his career at St Andrews on Friday, somehow making five birdies and just the one bogey in strong wind and heavy rain. His 68 was the lowest round of the day over the three host courses and it helped him reach ten under par. When asked if it was the best round of his life due to the conditions, Mansell said: "It's up there. I'm obviously really, really happy with that today."
Pepperell's amazing ace
Eddie Pepperell was delighted to give his hardy fans something to cheer about as he made a magnificent hole-in-one. Having opened his round at Kingsbarns Golf Links' fourth hole due to Friday morning's shotgun start, the Englishman bounced back from a bogey on the seventh with an ace at the par-three eighth. With the weather worsening later in his round, Pepperell was pleased he could reward his fans for coming out to watch him by achieving the rare feat. He said: "It was actually a good shot and it gave a few of my fans out here something to cheer about!"
Noren's ball obeys him at the 15th
When Alex Noren's tee-shot at Kingsbarns' short 15th was in the air, he wasn't sure whether the ball would make the front edge of the green, screaming at it to "GO!". And it did just that, settling around ten feet from the cup to set up a birdie chance that the Swede converted. He would sign for a 69 which took him into solo second on eight under.
Scottish weather...
Home hero Robert MacIntyre didn't see the problem!
McIlroy bursts out laughing after stunning par
World Number Two Rory McIlroy left himself around 25 feet for par at Kingsbarns' 18th but made no mistake, motoring in his lengthy putt from the front of the green. The crowd loved it, and so did he - laughing as it dropped.
Billy's birdie blitz
As the rain poured down at Kingsbarns, Billy Horschel went on a superb birdie run. He made four straight gains at the second, third, fourth and fifth towards the end of his round on his way to a second successive 71.
