Holder laughs off his tag

NIGEL VAUDIN had to be close to his best to overcome old friend Nigel Le Noury in the second round of the island championships and then laughed off his favourite tag bestowed on him by rival Mick Marley. That's psychological games he's playing with me - he's trying to play with my head,' joked the defending champion moments after his 2 and 1 win over a battling Le Noury.

Vaudin, who now plays Chris Thompson for a place in the quarter-finals and a likely meeting with Bobby Eggo, was two up at the turn but could not close out Le Noury before the 17th green where the latter narrowly missed a 20ft birdie putt to keep the match alive.

'I played the front nine well to get a good lead,' said the champion, who concedes he is enjoying good form and puts much of it down to improved fitness.

'I'm just enjoying it again and with that you get confident and the rest follows.'

Eggo, however, is a big danger in his half.

The number-two seed was three under as he finally closed out Geoff King 3 and 2.

The latter led after four but then lost five on the trot to be four down at the turn.

Birdies at 12, 14 and 15 got King back to two down, but a hungry Eggo, who felt he chipped poorly and raced straight off to the practice area, was not going to throw it away.

King, level for the round, said it had been a day of sporting lessons for him.

'I ran with Lee Merrien this morning and played golf with Bobby this evening, so today I've learned what sport is all about.'

In one of the best matches of the day, Steve Mahy beat Dave Rowlinson on the last.