Leader Paul McPhee admits he's
"a bit nervous being out in front"

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Paul McPhee from Perth goes into the final day of the McGregor Trophy with a two stroke lead and bidding to take the title North of the Border for the first time.
The 16 year old Scot, who shared the overnight lead, carded a second round 69 for 136, four under par, and is two clear of James Carney from Birmingham and three ahead of the rest of the field.
“This is new territory for me,” said McPhee. “I’ve never been in this position in a competition of this standard so I’m delighted. I’ll be a bit nervous being out in front but I’ll take each shot at a time and let the score take care of itself.”
Although the scoring was mush improved on round one, the weather certainly wasn’t with dull conditions and rain persisting for long periods until the sun broke through in the late afternoon. However, much lighter winds produced more opportunities and these were seized upon by many of the talented field.
Carney, captain of the Warwickshire under 16 team and a member of the under 18 squad, had an eagle and four birdies in his best-of-the-day 67 for 138. He was relieved to have found some form after admitting: “I had a terrible practise round. I was knocking it all over the place so I returned to the range and put a lot of things right.”
Three players lie joint third on 139, Seb Crookall-Nixon, Eddie Peters and James Brockington. Fourteen-year-old Crookall-Nixon, the Cockermouth Club Champion, had four birdies in a 69 and set the early target. He was joined on one under par by Peters, another 14 year old, who would have been the outright leader if he hadn’t double-bogeyed the long sixth and missed four putts from inside three feet.
Sixteen year old Brockington from Henley, Surrey-based Matthew Chapman, a member of the England Under 16 Squad, raced to the turn in five under par but then the rain kicked in and he was only able to take his birdie tally to six before shedding shots at the 16th and 17th in a 67.
He shares sixth spot with Rhys Pugh from Wales, who slipped to a 73 following his opening 67.
Ben Herbert from Essex, who shared the overnight lead with Pugh and McPhee, “couldn’t buy a putt” and signed for 74 and 141.
The halfway cut came at seven-over-par 147 with 46 players surviving for the final two rounds. England were victorious in the battle for the Nations Cup with their two teams sharing the trophy after finishing tied on 280, one stroke ahead of Scotland A.
Despite having only two players following the first round disqualification of Billy Downing, Eddie Peters and Chris Lloyd both shot 70 for England A, while Matthew Chapman with 67 and James Burnett with 69 ensured England B a share of the honours.
If Paul McPhee hadn’t dropped a shot at the 16th, Scotland A would also have finished on 280.
More information, news and hole by hole results can be found on the Championships section of the EGU website www.englishgolfunion.org