FLEETWOOD LEADS BY TWO SHOTS AT ROYAL WATERLOO

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes

Rising star Tommy Fleetwood enhanced his burgeoning reputation with a stellar round of 65 to surge into the lead at the midway stage of the Telenet Trophy in Belgium today.

The precociously talented 20 year old from Southport opened up a two-shot advantage over the rest of the field after reeling off seven birdies and an eagle at the fifth hole to move to six under par at Royal Waterloo Golf Club near Brussels

Were it not for a lapse in concentration on the third hole, where he contrived to make a double bogey from the middle of the fairway, Fleetwood would have entered the weekend with a better than even chance of securing his first Challenge Tour title, having finished runner-up twice – including once as an amateur – last year.

But the former Walker Cup player, whose victory at last year’s English Amateur Championship was the highlight of a superb amateur career, was keen to take the positives from a display of ball-striking which he judged to be as clean as any in his fledgling professional career.

He said: “It was much more enjoyable today than yesterday, once the rain had stopped after about the sixth hole. If you were hitting it well, which I was, then there was definitely a score to be had out there today.

“The double on the third was ridiculous really, especially as I’d played so well up until that point. I leaked my approach into the bunker, took two shots from the sand, and then duffed my next chip. I walked off the green wondering how I’d managed to make a double when I should’ve been looking at a birdie.

“At that point, I thought to myself: ‘No wonder you haven’t won yet!’ It was so frustrating. I actually got off to a slightly dogdy start but made a few good up and downs, then when I’d got my ball under control I go and run up a double out of nowhere. If I’d made a four – which is what I’d expect to do eight times out of ten – I would’ve shot a 62, and been five strokes clear instead.

“But I guess it’s all part of growing up and developing as a golfer. I’m beginning to make lots of birdies now and my putting’s really improved, so if I can cut out the mistakes then I’ll really be in business.”

England’s Jason Palmer climbed into contention with a round of 70 to join Italian Federico Colombo and his compatriot Oliver Whiteley in a share of second place on four under par.

The lowest score of the day was provided by Sweden’s Klas Eriksson, who shaved 15 shots off his first round total in a course record round of 64 to climb 121 places to a tie for 16th.

Overnight leader Grant Jackson of England slipped back to a share of fifth place on three under par after struggling in a round of 74.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72)

138 T Fleetwood (Eng) 73 65

140 O Whiteley (Eng) 68 72, F Colombo (Ita) 71 69, J Palmer (Eng) 70 70

141 G Jackson (Eng) 67 74, M Lundberg (Swe) 71 70, D Vanegas (Col) 68 73, R Santos (Por) 68 73, B Miarka (Ger) 73 68

142 L Jensen (Den) 74 68, A Tampion (Aus) 70 72, G Adell (Swe) 71 71, B Åkesson (Swe) 71 71, D Lokke (Den) 71 71, C Brazillier (Fra) 74 68, C Paisley (Eng) 71 71

143 D Denison (Eng) 71 72, K Eriksson (Swe) 79 64, B Grace (RSA) 68 75, A McArthur (Sco) 72 71, J Lima (Por) 72 71, A Pavan (Ita) 72 71, S Davis (Eng) 75 68, G Dear (Sco) 72 71, A Canete (Arg) 71 72,

144 P Golding (Eng) 73 71, B Evans (Eng) 74 70, J Garcia (Esp) 70 74, A Haindl (RSA) 73 71, B Hafthorsson (Isl) 75 69, J Guerrier (Fra) 75 69, A Hansen (Den) 71 73, R De Sousa (Sui) 73 71, N Vanhootegem (Bel) 71 73, H Bacher (Aut) 77 67, B Chapellan (Fra) 74 70, K Hesbois (am) (Bel) 76 68,

145 A Maestroni (Ita) 76 69, C Moriarty (Irl) 77 68, J Legarrea (Esp) 73 72, S Bebb (Wal) 75 70, M Baldwin (Eng) 72 73, G Molteni (Ita) 73 72, L Canter (Eng) 71 74, S Hutsby (Eng) 73 72, J Grillon (Fra) 73 72, M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 73 72, A Signor (Ita) 72 73,

146 B Barham (Eng) 76 70, N Lombardi (Ita) 75 71, I Keenan (Eng) 72 74, E Bertheussen (Nor) 74 72, C Mivis (Bel) 72 74, L Richard (Bel) 73 73, J Doherty (Sco) 74 72, J Hepworth (Eng) 75 71, C Doak (Sco) 74 72, A Perrino (Ita) 77 69, M Warren (Sco) 71 75, P Archer (Eng) 72 74, P Relecom (Bel) 74 72, M Kieffer (Ger) 75 71, J Quesne (Fra) 78 68, S Robinson (Eng) 70 76, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 75 71,

SCOTS WHO MISSED THE CUT
147 C Macaulay 74 73.

149 A Coltart 77 72.