County duo well set at Lytham

Shropshire & Herefordshire's two representatives in the British Amateur Golf Championships were today in with an outstanding chance of booking a coveted place in the matchplay stages.Church Stretton's Jonathan Gidney and Llanymynech's Mark Trow both shot sub-par rounds at St Annes Old Links yesterday.

A repeat at neighbouring Royal Lytham & St Annes today would leave the duo in with an excellent chance of finishing the strokeplay stages in the top 64 - thereby qualifying for the knockout phase which begins tomorrow.

Gidney found himself in a tie for 41st overnight after an opening round of 69, three back nine birdies on the 10th, 11th and 17th seeing him home in 33.

Trow was just one shot worse off and in a tie for 64th after four birdies and two bogeys helped him card a round of 70.

Almost 300 of the world's top amateurs are in action competing for the most prestigious prize in amateur golf.

And evidence of the quality on show was provided by England international David Horsey who shot a seven-under-par round of 64 at Lytham - despite bogeying the first.

That meant the Manchester star - part of the GB & I Walker Cup training squad - equalled the course record set by last year's US Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman on his way to winning the 1996 Open.