ENGLAND LEAD IN BID TO QUALIFY FOR 2013 EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

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England is in pole position after the opening day of the European Men’s Challenge Trophy in fine conditions at the Keilir club in Iceland. Thanks to 68s from Jack Hiluta, Garrick Porteous and Ben Stow, England finished day one on 352, three strokes ahead of the Netherlands and nine clear of Portugal and Iceland in joint third place. The event is a qualifier for next year’s European men’s team championship in Denmark, a title England won as recently as 2010. But a 15th place last year means they must finish in the top three this week to qualify for the main event in 2013. Having recovered from a back injury, Hiluta (pictured) had four birdies in his three-under-par return while Porteous and Stow signed for six birdies apiece. Callum Shinkwin finished on two-over-par 73 while Craig Hinton returned 75 and Ben Taylor a non-scoring 76. Lynne Fraser England Golf Marketing and PR ManagerTel: 01526 354500

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