GRITTY Gary Emerson dug deep into his repertoire of shot-making to beat the elements at a windswept Nissan Irish Open on May 20.

Despite the course playing two shots more difficult than the opening day, Emerson improved on his first round 76 by five shots.

The Broadstone touring professional was one of just a handful of players to break par with his excellent round of 71 for a three-over par 36-hole total of 147.

"I only missed a few fairways which is so important around a tough course like this," explained Emerson.

"Another big factor in my improvement was my putting. I had my caddy Rick lining me up for the first time which seemed to work," he added.

A string of 12 consecutive pars was the perfect base for Emerson to build on as he went on to birdie the 13th and 17th holes.

His only dropped shot at the 16th came during a torrential downpour as he was forced to play a three iron approach shot into the driving rain on the 462-yard hole.

The inland links course, designed by Colin Montgomerie, was taking its toll on the top-class field as wind and rain swept over the Carton House Golf Club in County Kildare.

"The course is growing on me," admitted Emerson. "I wasn't too sure about it at first after finding 10 bunkers in 11 holes on the opening day. But that was obviously down to me, not the course!"

Emerson made the halfway cut with a stroke to spare and was eight shots behind the early club house leader Stephen Dodd, who carded a second round 70.