Golf: Ryan Fox fails to fire in second round at Irish Open

Ryan Fox struggled to find the form which saw him lead the field at the Irish Open after day one. Photo / Getty

Ryan Fox has tumbled back down to earth at the Irish Open after he failed to produce a second round to match his scintillating opener on Friday.

Fox led the field coming into today's round after a flawless 8-under 64 at Mount Juliet on Friday.

However, there were plenty of blemishes during his follow-up effort overnight as he tumbled down the leaderboard after a one-over 73 on a day which still produced plenty of low scoring.

Fox struggled in recording four bogeys - three on a front nine on which he landed six birdies just yesterday - and was fortunate to hole three birdies to balance his scorecard somewhat.

He now lies four shots behind leader Jorge Campillo of Spain, added a 4-under 68 to his opening bogey-free 65 for a halfway total of 11 under par, one shot ahead of Poland's Adrian Meronk (67) and Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti (69).

Home favourite Shane Lowry staged a grandstand finish to make the cut. He looked set for an early exit until he birdied his last four holes for a second round of 70. The 2019 British Open champion rounded off a brilliant fightback by holing from 20 feet on the 18th to the delight of the large crowds.

At 3 under, Lowry is eight shots off the pace as he looks to win the event for a second time. He famously lifted the title as an amateur in 2009.

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington joined Lowry in making the cut on 3 under thanks to a brilliant finish. The new US Senior Open champion followed a double bogey on the seventh — his 16th hole — with birdies on the eighth and ninth.

- with AP