Bradley Moore extends his lead to three strokes in Carris Trophy Derbyshire’s Bradley Moore is three shots clear at the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Carris Trophy at Little Aston Golf Club in Staffordshire.  The 17-year-old from Kedleston Park had been a stroke ahead after the first round of the English boys’ open stroke play championship and extended his lead when he added level par 72 to his opening 69.  However, he came in counting the cost of two bogeys in the last four holes. “It was a shame, really. I’d got a few under and then towards the end it tailed off and it wasn’t as good as yesterday.  “But it’s nice to feel I haven’t played great but knocked it round in level par – and I’ll look forward to tomorrow,” added Moore (Image © Leaderboard Photography), who has won the England Golf boys’ order of merit for the past two years.  Most of the other early challengers slipped back – but, on a day of sunshine and showers, they were quickly replaced by a host of low-scoring players.  John Gough of Buckinghamshire, Hugo Townsend of Sweden, Gian-Marco Petrozzi of Staffordshire and Billy Spooner of Lincolnshire all beat par, while John Axelsen of Denmark and Jordan Sundborg from the Isle of White went round in level 72.  All six are currently sharing second place, grouped on level par for the championship. There’s another four players just a stroke behind them.  Meanwhile, the Nations Cup team prize was shared by England I, represented by Bradley Moore, Will Enefer (Wrekin) and Harry Hall (West Cornwall), and Demark I, John Axelsen, Christoffer Bring and Alexander Frances. The low score of the day was four-under 68, returned first by Townsend, shortly after by Gough (Stoke Park) and later by Denmark’s Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen.  Townsend, 16, offered a classic case of ‘beware the injured/sick golfer’ having been ill all night, but his golf was superb. He had five birdies and didn’t drop a shot until his solitary bogey on the 17th. “If you feel bad you don’t think about the golf, just how bad you’re feeling,” he said. “I played really, really well, I only missed one green and one fairway. Maybe I should be sick more often!”  Gough, 16, had a brilliant start, scoring par, birdie, eagle, over the first three holes. He, too, dropped just one shot, on the 11th, and came straight back with birdies on the next two holes.  “I’m really happy, I hadn’t had an under-par round in a national event this year and it’s good to get back on track.” Petrozzi, 18, (Trentham) was another low scorer, adding three-under 69 this opening 75. He finished in considerable style, almost holing a wedge shot on the last to save par and stay below 70.  “My target was to get back to level par, so I’m pleased,” he commented. “It was a lot more score-able today, the wind had dropped, the rain softened the greens a tad and, as far as I’m concerned, I didn’t make as many mistakes as yesterday.  Spooner (Woodhall Spa) putted well from short range to secure his 71, while Sundborg (Shanklin  and Sandown) also found the measure of the greens and played steadily:  “I didn’t take any risks, that’s the plan this week.”  John Axelsen has graduated to this championship after his win in last year’s McGregor Trophy for U16s and has completed two rounds in level par. “I guess the scores are all right, but my game is much better than the score. I could have been minus but I had so many putts, both today and yesterday.”  But he added: “I like being two or three back at the last round. I like to hunt, so it’s not too bad.”  After today’s round the field was cut to the leading 60 players and ties who go forward to play the final 36 holes. The cut fell at nine over par and a total of 62 players qualified. Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193