Marc Warren still in top 10 at halfway in British Masters

Fitzpatrick continues to shine at Woburn

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Matthew Fitzpatrick produced another late rally to maintain his place at the top of the leaderboard at the halfway mark of British Masters supported by Sky Sports at Woburn Golf Club. The 21 year old Englishman, who held a one shot overnight advantage after birdieing the final two holes of his opening round, picked up two shots in his final three holes for a second round of 69 to share the lead with Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen on nine under par. Fitzpatrick, who is the youngest player in the field, is bidding for his maiden European Tour title, having finished in the top three on three occasions already in his first full season, while Kjeldsen, who signed for a round of 68, is chasing his second victory of 2015, after winning the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation in May. Englishman Richard Bland and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat both posted four under par rounds of 67 and are one shot behind the leading duo on eight under par. Tournament host Ian Poulter battled back after dropping three shots in two holes on the front nine to card a round of 70. The Englishman is five shots off the lead on four under par. Key players Matthew Fitzpatrick – 69 (-9 total) “I didn't hole as many putts as I did yesterday. It was just sort of trying to grind it out and sort of got the feeling back. So my back nine, which is the front nine, I just managed to make some putts too, so that was nice. “I have learned a lot from this year really. I’ve been in the top three three times. I’ve just got to keep working at it.” Søren Kjeldsen – 68 (-9 total) “It was nice. I had a little bit of a slow start. I made a good birdie on 17 to get back, then made a nice birdie on one, and then poor bogey on two. I hit a bad second shot on three into the bunker and then I holed that nice bunker shot and that sort of set me up for the back nine. I played well after that.” Richard Bland – 67 (-8 total) “It was strange because I was struggling with my back most of the day. I was struggling to release the club. I had some pain-killers which have kind of helped a little bit. It was a little bit uncomfortable walking around and not being able to go fully into your shots because I'm protecting it a little bit. I was pleased with the way I came back from that start.” Kiradech Aphibarnrat – 67 (-8 total) “I have been striking the ball well all day. The driver has been good, but I had some missed shots. And the worst two shots were at the end on the tee shots on 17 and 18. But it's good to recover on the last hole and very nice putt to hole the last birdie.” Shane Lowry – 69 (-7 total) “It was quite a frustrating day. I felt like I was playing okay, but really struggled with the greens out there, struggled with the pace, struggled to get the ball online. It wasn't easy, but I kept fighting, kept going, and stayed patient. I made a couple birdies towards the end and made a bad bogey on six. Other than that, I'm pretty happy where I am going into the weekend.” Ian Poulter – 70 (-4 total) “All in all, I held the end of the round together nicely. In hindsight, it would be nice not to make mistakes out on the golf course. I made a couple yesterday and made a couple today. That's why I'm not a little further up that board. “I'm on my home course where I know it very well. It is time to press Saturday, Sunday. I know what I have to do. There's no nothing else I can do apart from press now. I’m five back, but five is very achievable on this course, the way I know the greens.” Complete second round scores Par 142 (2x71) 133 S Kjeldsen (Den) 65 68, M Fitzpatrick  (Eng) 64 69, 134 R Bland (Eng) 67 67, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 67 67, 135 S Lowry  (Irl) 66 69, R Karlsson (Swe) 65 70, B Dredge (Wal) 66 69, 136 L Slattery (Eng) 65 71, F Zanotti (Par) 68 68, M Lundberg (Swe) 66 70, M Warren (Sco) 65 71, A Sullivan (Eng) 67 69, 137 G McDowell  (Nir) 70 67, R Rock (Eng) 72 65, J Luiten (Ned) 68 69, W Ormsby (Aus) 68 69, R Wattel  (Fra) 66 71, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 70 67, S Hutsby  (Eng) 69 68, J Van Zyl (RSA) 68 69, D Howell (Eng) 71 66, J Quesne  (Fra) 70 67, 138 N Kearney (Irl) 69 69, P Harrington (Irl) 66 72, C Wood  (Eng) 69 69, R Karlberg  (Swe) 68 70, D Brooks (Eng) 69 69, I Poulter (Eng) 68 70, O Fisher  (Eng) 68 70, A Chesters  (Eng) 69 69, K Broberg (Swe) 71 67, A Levy (Fra) 67 71, 139 L Donald  (Eng) 67 72, Y Yang (Kor) 71 68, T Hatton (Eng) 71 68, L Westwood (Eng) 69 70, M Fraser (Aus) 66 73, A Johnston (Eng) 70 69, A Wall (Eng) 68 71, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 69 70, P Larrazábal (Esp) 71 68, 140 J Edfors (Swe) 70 70, E Pepperell (Eng) 72 68, G Bourdy (Fra) 71 69, A Hansen (Den) 70 70, P Dunne (Irl) 71 69, P Hanson (Swe) 70 70, F Molinari (Ita) 71 69, N Fasth (Swe) 70 70, E Espana (Fra) 71 69, J Singh (Ind) 67 73, 141 D Willett  (Eng) 69 72, M Carlsson  (Swe) 69 72, D Horsey (Eng) 69 72, G Havret  (Fra) 70 71, J Donaldson (Wal) 69 72, D Drysdale (Sco) 72 69, M Crespi  (Ita) 69 72, A Cañizares  (Esp) 69 72, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 72 69, D Fichardt (RSA) 73 68, 142 R Finch  (Eng) 69 73, T Pieters  (Bel) 72 70, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 72 70, M Hoey  (Nir) 69 73, M Jiménez (Esp) 72 70, C Lee (Sco) 72 70, J Campillo (Esp) 71 71, G Storm  (Eng) 72 70, G Mulroy (RSA) 70 72, S Hend (Aus) 71 71, G Stal  (Fra) 72 70, B Hebert  (Fra) 73 69, MISSED THE CUT 143 S Kapur (Ind) 70 73, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 70 73, R Fisher (Eng)   68 75, O Wilson (Eng) 71 72, D McGrane (Irl) 72 71, M Nixon (Eng) 71 72, T Olesen (Den) 72 71, R Green (Aus) 71 72, J Parry (Eng) 72 71, 144 S Benson (Eng) 74 70, S Lewton (Eng) 71 73, 145 O Farr (Wal) 70 75, M Tullo (Chi) 72 73, M Madsen  (Den) 73 72, F Fritsch  (Ger) 74 71, P Edberg (Swe) 74 71, 146 D Clarke (Nir) 74 72, D Lipsky (USA) 72 74, M Manassero (Ita) 73 73, B An (SKor) 72 74, T Lewis (Eng) 72 74, 147 P Baker (Eng) 73 74, T Levet (Fra) 75 72, N Dougherty  (Eng) 70 77, J Morrison  (Eng) 74 73, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 71 76, 148 M Foster (Eng) 72 76, H Otto (RSA) 72 76, M Ilonen  (Fin) 73 75, F Aguilar (Chi) 75 73, M Lampert (Ger) 74 74, A Quiros  (Esp) 76 72, 149 J Carlsson (Swe) 74 75, T Aiken (RSA) 73 76, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 73 76, 150 R Jacquelin (Fra) 76 74, M Kieffer (Ger) 74 76, R Kakko  (Fin) 76 74, 151 T Bjørn (Den) 75 76, M Siem  (Ger) 77 74, J Kruger (RSA) 74 77, 153 S Jamieson  (Sco) 76 77, J Levermore (Eng) 77 76, 154 S Hansen (Den) 75 79, ** C Doak (Sco) 78 RT, S Gallacher (Sco) 75 WD, P Uihlein  (USA) RT  0,