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
1 75, 67 (lvl) Alex Belt Snainton Golf Centre
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
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
Labels: PGA