Golf:Portstewart's Paul Cutler steered another steady course on the second day of the European Amateur Championship in Finland where his four compatriots all improved on lacklustre first round efforts.
Cutler carded a level par 72 for the second day running and is still the leading Irishman at the Vanajanlinna Golf and Country Club.
The Lytham Trophy champion traded two birdies with as many bogeys in a virtual carbon copy of his opening round on the pine tree-lined layout, one of Europe’s newest courses.
Rory Leonard was the best Irish performer on the day after a 70 improved the Banbridge golfer to one over.
The Castle's Dara Lernihan (71) also dipped under par but he and Cian Curley from Newlands (74) find themselves well down the field on six over and in need of improvement if they are to make it into the final round - only the top 60 and ties advance after the third round.
Rathmore's Alan Dunbar (74) has an even greater task as his 10 over aggregate was seven shots off the projected qualifying mark.
Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen (66) and England's Tommy Fleetwood (67) were the new joint leaders on eight under 136.
The Dane enjoyed a flawless afternoon with six birdies in all, while Fleetwood carded five birdies, an eagle at the par five 15th plus two dropped shots.
Previous Irish winners include; Rory McIlroy (2006), Brian McElhinney (2003), Stephen Browne (2001) and Paddy Gribben (1998).