McKECHNIE AND ZACK SALTMAN HAVE £10,000 CHANCE

Colm Moriarty will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Sweetspot Classic after shooting a second-round 65, five under par, in the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour event at Longhirst Hall in Northumberland.

The Irishman is eight under for the 36 holes so far with Paul McKechnie, winner at Moray last month, second on seven under after signing for a four-under 66 on Thursday.

Zack Saltman began the day with a one-stroke lead but is now two behind after a one-over-par second round on the par-70 Lakes Course at Longhirst.

Moriarty (Glasson Hotel and Golf Club) was three under after the first round and got his second 18 underway with three consecutive birdies from the first. A bogey on the seventh was the first of two blemishes, with a shot also dropped on the seventeenth.

However, an eagle on the par-four 11^th and birdies at 14 and 18 took Moriarty to 66 and a one-stroke lead ahead of Friday’s third and final round.

McKechnie (Braid Hills Golf Centre) also began day two three under par, and shot five birdies and one bogey to move to second on the leaderboard on seven under par.

Saltman (Archerfield Links) had shot a course-record 63 for his opening round but lost his lead with a double bogey on the fourth. A birdie on the par-three tenth was quickly cancelled out with a bogey at 11, but a second birdie of the round came on the 16^th and the Scotsman is two behind leader Moriarty.

George Woolgar (Capitalservices) goes into the final round three off the lead on five under par with rounds of 67 and 68. Daniel Wardrop (Didsbury Golf Club) completes the top five on four under.

A cut to the leading 50 players plus ties has now been made, with all golfers with a 36-hole score of four over par or better proceeding to play Friday’s final round, after which the winner will collect £10,000 and a brand new Motocaddy trolley.

Spectator entry to the event is free throughout the week, and Sky Sports HD will film Friday’s final round for a highlights programme to be shown on Tuesday, August 27, repeated three times on Wednesday, August 28.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 140 (2x70)
132 Colm Moriarity (Ireland) 67 65
133 Paul McKechnie (Braid H8ills) 67 66
134 Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) 68 71

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
139 Paul Doherty (Vale Hote) 64 75 (T13)
141 Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 69 72, Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 70 71 
(T31)
143 Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) 72 71 (T39)

MISSED THE CUT (144 (+5) and better qualified)
+5 Neil Henderson (The Renaissance), Paul Drake (Pumpherston)
+6 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), Jack Doherty (North Gailes), Iain Stoddart (Uphall).
+9 Ian Redford (St Andrews). 
+14 Callum Trahan (Gleneagles Hotel)
+16 Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre)


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