Gareth Wright three off lead in  PGA pros' championship

West Linton Welshman Gareth Wright will start Thursday's third round in the PGA professionals' championship at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club in joint fourth place, three shots behind new leader Alex Belt (Snainton), writes Colin Farquharson .

Wright, pictured, had one birdie and two bogeys in a one-over-par 72 for a two-round halfway tally of 145 over the par-71 course in Somerset.
There are three Scots in joint 13th place on 146 - Craig Everett (Caldwell) 75-71, Paul Wardell (North Berwick) 72 74 and Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) 73 74.
Also in the top 20 on 148 are Stewart Savage (Dalmuir) 75-73 and Craig Ronald (Carluke) 76-72.


SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2x71)
142 A Belt (Snainton) 75 67
144 A Wrigley (Hartlepool) 71 73, Michael Watson (Wessex) 73 71

SELECTED TOTALS
145 G Wright (West Linton) 73 72 (T4) 
146 C Everett (Caldwell) 75 71, P Wardell (North Berwick) 72 74 (T7)
147 G Fox (Clydeway Golf) 73 74 (T15)
148 S Savage (Dalmuir) 75 73, C Ronald (Carluke) 76 72 (T15)
153 F Mann (Carnoustie) 79 74, P Walker (Ballumbie Castle) 75 78
MISSED THE CUT
154 I Taylor (Drmpellier) 80 74
157 G Brown (Montrose Links) 79 78
164 A Stuart (Paul Lawrie GC) 87 77

Yorkshireman Belt buckles up to lead by two

PGA NEWS RELEASE

                                                              By Matthew Suddaby

Alex Belt is on course to avoid a Wentworth hangover after a stunning four-under-par 67 left him two shots clear in the Titleist and  FootJoy PGA Professional Championship.

Yorkshireman Belt, pictured by courtesy of Getty Images (c), who is based at Snainton GC, almost blew the competition away at a blustery Burnham and Berrow, finishing the second round level-par to head the leaderboard at the halfway stage.

His pinpoint accuracy on the greens left him unequalled as difficult conditions kept scoring high over the famous links course which has been tamed by world-class players including Christy O’Connor and Justin Rose over its rich 125-year history.

Belt’s stellar round in the £78,000 championship final came less than two weeks after the disappointment of a missed cut at the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship.

And the wide grin he bore after two birdies from his final two holes showed the personal importance of a day which edged him closer to a place in Jon Bevan’s PGA Cup team to play the United States in California in September.

The leading six players on the south-west coast of England this week will likely secure their places in the team for the biennial matchplay event.

Belt said: “I got here this morning and said to my caddy John that if we could be within four shots of the lead it would be a good day’s work.

“The conditions yesterday were really tough and I expected more of the same. I didn’t make many mistakes today and putted well which really made the difference.

“It’s a strange situation coming out of Wentworth because you spend an awful lot of time and energy preparing for the week and actually playing while you’re there.

“I didn’t feel at my best while I was there, but after a few days off I’m starting to get my mojo back a little bit.

“That’s important because this is a big week for me, I’ve always wanted to play in the PGA Cup and I’d love to make it into Jon Bevan’s team for later this year.”

Belt ended the day clear of closest challengers Alex Wrigley (Hartlepool) and Michael Watson (Wessex) who both go into the third round two-over-par.

Wrigley, who led going into round two, impressed once again despite a difficult start with a bogey at the first hole.

“I didn’t play as well as I did yesterday, but still managed to get it round okay,” he concluded.

“I’m really pleased to be in the position I am though after two rounds, especially when you consider the conditions.

“I just want to get back out there now and start practising for my round tomorrow.”

The winner at Burnham and Berrow will also secure the use of a Peugeot 308GT for 12 months.

Pos         Score                     Name                                    Represents    
1              75, 67 (lvl)            Alex Belt                              Snainton Golf Centre

2              71, 73 (+2)           Alex Wrigley                       Hartlepool GC

                 73, 71 (+2)          Michael Watson                 Wessex GC

4=           73, 72 (+3)           Gareth Wright                   West Linton

                75, 70                    Steve Parry                         NW Golf Academy

6=           74, 72 (+4)           David Higgins                     Waterville Links

                75, 71                    Craig Everett                      Caldwell GC

                72, 74                    Paul Wardell                       North Berwick

                76, 70                    Cameron Clark                  Moor Hall

                74, 72                    Jason Levermore             Channels

                77, 69                    Craig Shave                         Whetstone