MARK SMITH FIRES EIGHT-UNDER 63 IN
PGA EUROPRO TOUR EVENT

MARK Smith produced the best individual round of the season on the second day of the latest PGA EuroPro Tour event.
Smith, a member of Erewash Valley Golf Club in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, fired eight birdies for an eight-under 63 at the Maylands Golf and Country Club, near Romford, Essex.
This performance saw him jump from tied 64th after a level-par 71 on Wednesday into the top dozen to comfortably qualify for the final day’s play.
His 63 was the lowest total of the campaign, beating the 64s by Christopher Hanson (Crosland Heath), Jonathan Evans (Wentworth) and Robert McGuirk (Princes) at Bovey Castle, Cardrona and Faithlegg respectively.
Smith, who topped the EuroPro Tour Order of Merit in 2005, is currently tenth in the 2007 standings after finishing second at The Players Club, Bristol.
However, with £10,000 going to the winner, Smith could make a leap up the rankings if he has a successful final day.
It promises to be an exciting day’s play on Friday as a host of players will still be confident of finishing on top of the leaderboard in the Towergate Insurance-sponsored event.
Former European Tour event winner Paul Curry (Braintree), a victor at the 1994 Jersey European Airways Open, was an early leader on Thursday on ten-under.
But he was soon joined on that total by Neil Walker, who is aiming for his second triumph of the year after winning at Cardrona, Scotland in May.
However, Chelmsford’s Lloyd Kennedy ended Thursday in front with a total of 11-under after scores of 66 and 65.
Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill) and Ian Ridgway (High Legh Park) are on nine-under, with amateur Tony Piccolo (Sports Academy) and Ross Whitelock (Staddon Heights) two of the six players on eight-under.
Daniel Wardrop, a member of the Didsbury Golf Club, near Manchester, has made the cut for the fourth time this season. His best performance of the campaign was when he came fifth at Bovey Castle, Devon in June and he is well placed to beat that mark after a second round score of 70 followed up an effort of 65 on Wednesday.
Clacton on Sea golfer Jason Levermore also has a chance to claim his highest finish of the year. After the first round he was joint first and recorded a one-over 72 to ensure he would remain in the top 50 and still be playing on Friday.
Three Scots -Elliot Saltman, Graham Gordon and Paul Doherty, made the final day's play.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
131 Lloyd Kennedy (Chelmsford) 66 65.
132 Neil Walker (Special Steel Group) 67 65, Paul Curry (Colne Valley) 65 67.
133 Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill) 68 65, Ian Ridgway (High Legh Park) 69 64.
134 Tony Piccolo (am) (Sports Academy) 67 67, Ross Whitelock (Staddon Heights) 68 66.
Mark Smith (Erewash Valley) 71 63, Alan Murray (Greystones) 67 67, Lawrence Dodd (Thetford) 69 65, Christopher Hanson (Crosland Heath) 65 69.

Scots qualifiers (140 and better was 36-hole cut-off point):
138 E Saltman 71 67 (jt 24th).
140 G Gordon 68 72, P Doherty 72 68 (jt 45th).
Scots non-qualifiers:
143 N Mitchell 70 73.
145 G Brown 72 73.