Nicol, O'Neil and Henry only Scots to beat 

EuroPro Tour cut at East Sussex

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Kris Nicol (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), pictured below, had an inward half of 31 (one eagle and three birdies) in a second-round 68 for 143 to beat the 36-hole cut with a shot to spare in this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event at East Sussex National Golf Club.

But stablemates Sean Lawrie (73 for 147), Craig Lawrie (74 for 149) and Newmachar's John Duff (79 for 153) missed out.

The only Scots to make the cut alongwith Nicol were Conor O'Neil (Mearns Castle) (73-70) and John Henry (Clydebank and District) (71-72), tied for 33rd place on 143 - eight shots off the pace being set by Englishman Curtis Griffiths (Wentworth) with scores of 70 and 65 for seven-under 135.

James Steven (Clydeway Golf), leading Scot overnight with a 69, slumped to a 77 second time round and was two shots over the limit on 146. 

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 142 (2x71)

135 C Griffiths (Eng) 70 65

136 A Chesters (Eng) 67 69, P Tarver-Jones(Eng) 69 67.

SCOTS' SCORES

143 K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC) 75 68, C O'Neil (Mearns Castle) 73 70, J Henry (Clydebank and Dist) 71 72 (T33)

MISSED THE CUT (144 and better qualified)

146 B Neil (unatt) 78 68, R Campbell (Falkirk) 79 67, J Steven (Clydeway Golf) 69 77.

147 S Lawrie (PLGC) 74 73

148 N Fenwick (Dunbar) 76 72

149 P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 75 74, C Lawrie (PLGC) 75 74

152 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 79 73

153 J Duff (Newmachar) 74 79

154 J McColl (Kingsbarns PA) 79 75

157 C Sutherland (Cherry Lodge) 80 77

160 S Borrowman (Dollar) 74 86

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Curtis Griffiths carded a second-round 65 to lead the Matchroom Sport Championship by one stroke on nine under par ahead of the final round of the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event on the East Course at East Sussex National.

Ashley Chesters (Hawkstone Park; 67, 69) and Peter Tarver-Jones (Worthing Golf Club; 69, 67), a two-time winner on the EuroPro Tour, share second on eight under with Nick Marsh (Huddersfield Golf Club; 70, 68) and Phillip Price (70, 68) two back. Price finished second in the European Open at East Sussex National in 1993.

Griffiths (Wentworth) carded eight birdies in his second round, with a solitary bogey at the 9^th. His round got off to a flier when he broke par at the 1^st and 2^nd, and a third birdie of the front nine came at the 6^th.

Coming in, the 24-year-old shot five more birdies to sign for a second-round 65, seven under par, and top the leaderboard by one on nine under. With four top-ten finishes to his name already this season, a win could propel Griffiths into the all-important Race to Desert Springs Order of Merit top five. 

“I have been playing pretty steadily over the last two weeks, but haven’t had many putts go in,” he said. “Today was the day it all dropped and I was hoovering them up.

“This week and last week at Caversham Heath have been quite similar, with the rough quite high. My driver is usually my good point so it has been good.

“I will approach the final round like any other day and if it comes out that I win then spot on, but we will see. My mindset will be to take every shot as it comes.”

A cut to the leading 50 players and ties has now been made, with all those level par or better proceeding to play the final round.

The Matchroom Sport Championship carries a £50,000 prize fund with the winner taking home £10,000, which will be a valuable addition on the Race To Desert Springs Order of Merit, from which the top five at the end of the season earn a Challenge Tour card for 2017.

Highlights from East Sussex National will be broadcast on Sky Sports on Tuesday, August 30. Spectator entry is free throughout the event, and live scoring can be found at www.europrotour.com.