Summary Jimmy Mullen retained a share of lead at the halfway stage of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
ST ANDREWS (AFP) - Jimmy Mullen continued his remarkable professional debut as the Walker Cup star retained a share of the lead on Friday at the halfway stage of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Englishman Mullen, who won all four of his matches for Great Britain and Ireland in a record Walker Cup win over the United States at Royal Lytham last month, carded five birdies and two bogeys in a second round 69 at St Andrews.
"I was just out there trying to enjoy it and learn, and to be at the top of the leaderboard is, I can t really explain," said Mullen, in quotes published on the European Tour website.
"I know I ve played the easier of the courses. I m playing Carnoustie tomorrow (Saturday) so I knew I had to do two good rounds in the first two days to take a bit of the pressure off myself," he added.
The 21-year-old was joined at the top of the leaderboard on 11-under par by compatriot Anthony Wall, who reeled off five birdies over the back nine for an eight-under round of 64.
Irishman Paul Dunne, who like Mullen has also just joined the paid ranks, was part of a group of four golfers lying one stroke off the lead.
Dunne, who shared the lead after 54 holes of the British Open on the Old Course in July, sank three birdies with just one dropped shot in a round of 70 that left him tied with Jamie Donaldson, Chris Stroud and Thorbjorn Olesen -- all of whom made hay on the Kingsbarns course.
South Africa s Garth Mulroy was one shot further back with last year s US Open champion Martin Kaymer the leading name in a five-strong group three strokes off the overall pace.
