Martin Young moves closer to his English open  mid-amateur title dream Hampshire’s Martin Young took the 36-hole lead in the Logan Trophy today – and moved a step closer to his ambition of regaining the English mid-amateur (over 35s) title at his home course, Brokenhurst Manor. He returned a second 69 on a day of sunshine and heavy showers and, with one round to play,  is two under for the championship, which he won previously in 2006. Young is being chased by James Bishop (Little Aston) - whom he partnered today – and by Ajay Patel (Royal Wimbledon) and Neil Williams (Walton Heath) who are all level par.  A stroke further back is a group of three players: Lewis Watcham (Harpenden Common), who shared the first round lead, Jorg Paulus of Germany and Bob Florence (Rochester and Cobham Park). Young’s verdict on the day was: “I’m pleased, I’ve played well and I’m still in it.” His round followed a similar pattern to yesterday’s, starting well with birdies on the first two holes, but losing some momentum at the end, just as the first of the heavy showers rolled in. The par five 16th again refused to yield a birdie and, once more, Young bogeyed the 17th. A long drive, to within 60 yards of the last green, put a birdie on the cards but the ball stopped hard against overhanging rough and he was unable to chip it as close as he would have liked. Young is in good form having recently won the Welsh mid-amateur, the new Justin Rose mid-amateur at North Hants and his county championship. His closest rivals have played themselves right in to the mix with two days of steady scoring. Williams has returned two level par cards while Patel and Bishop both scored 69 today. Patel confessed: “I made some curious up and downs! When I got out of position my wedge saved me.”  Playing partner Jorg Paulus of Germany, who shot 68 today, confirmed: “I have played for 30 years and it was the best up and down round I have seen.” Bishop meanwhile returned a tidy card with three birdies and two bogeys – and a steady string of eight pars to complete his round. Overnight leaders Lewis Watcham and Gareth Sheridan slipped back after yesterday’s 67s. Watcham kept in touch with his 74 and said: “I just didn’t hit it close enough and I had 14 pars and four bogeys, all very boring! I’m slightly disappointed but I haven’t played myself out of it.” Sheridan (Camberley Heath) returned 79, which included an eagle three, but four bad shots cost him dearly each time. He commented: “My card is a real roller-coaster. If yesterday was a nice stroll on the beach today was surviving the apocalypse – but I have survived! “I’ve made the cut, which was my goal, and yesterday was a big bonus. Putting myself in that position was nice and I live to fight another day.”   The low round of the day was the 67 of former Dorset county captain David Cook (Parkstone) who is playing the Logan for the first time. He had eight birdies in his round and remarked: “This is nice after yesterday when I had a bad start and struggled. I played lovely today and I’m really chuffed.” He’s two-over for the championship and sharing eighth place with former winner John Kemp (Woburn) and Scotland’s Mitchell Steel. After today’s round the field was cut to the leading 45 players and ties who go forward to play tomorrow’s find round. The cut fell on 10-over par and 46 players qualified. Click here for full scores Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193

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