MATT Blackey held his nerve trying to beat the cut at the Madeira Island Open yesterday.

Low cloud and poor visibility delaying the start of the second day made it difficult for early starters like Blackey. His early birdie was overshadowed by bogeys at four and five.

At one over par, the Hayling clubman, who lives in Southampton, was on the wrong side of the cut, but he played his last six holes in one under for a level par halfway aggregate which looked like it would be good enough to see him through.

Former Salisbury pro Gary Emerson, one off the lead after the first round, had a long wait before starting his second round but opened up with three safe pars to stay six under - four behind new leader Kyron Sullivan.

Stoneham's Richard Bland, one of the last out, went two under with a second-hole birdie.