Argentina&aposs Daniel Vancsik leads Frenchman Christian Cevaer by one at the halfway stage of the Madeira Island Open, while Australian Simon Nash also continues his rise up the leaderboard. Thirty-year-old South AmericanVancskik, who did not manage a single top-10 finish in his first full season on the circuit last year, reached 10 under par by adding a 66 to his opening 68. Cevaer, whose only victory in more than 250 European Tour events came at the 2004 Spanish Open, was heading for a best-of-the-day 64 and a share of top spot until he finished with a bogey five. In third place on eight under after a 67 is 44-year-old Spaniard Santiago Luna, playing the 520th event of his Tour career and his first of this year. First-round pacesetter Ricardo Santos fell back into the pack, while former Ryder Cup star Peter Baker could add only a 72 to his first-day 67 and so left himself five strokes to make up over the weekend. Nash though, continued his solid progress, with the Australian carding a three under par 69 to go with his 70 from the first round to be tied at eighth at five under overall. Aussie Andrew Tampion (68), meanwhile, is tied for 30th, while Wade Ormsby (67) is a further shot behind. Madeira Islands Open -9: Christian Cevear 70 65 -8: Santiago Luna 69 67 -7: David Frost 72 65 -6: Notah Begah III 67 71, Alexander Noren 72 66, Mads Vibe-Hastrup 68 70. -5: Frederik Andersson Hed 70 69, Peter Baker 67 72, Euan Little 73 66, Sam Little 70 69, Simon Nash (Australia) 70 69, David Park 71 68, Jamie Spence 74 65, Oliver Wilson 70 69. Also: -2: Andrew Tampion (Australia) 74 68 -1: Wade Ormsby (Australia) 76 67 1: David Bransdon (Australia) 72 73 2: Terry Pilkadaris (Australia) 74 72 6: Matthew Zions (Australia) 78 72
Author: PA Sport