Gidney on course for matchplay bid

Three Shropshire golfers were today hoping to seal their place in the matchplay stages of the British Amateur Championship.

Church Stretton's Jonathan Gidney is best placed to qualify after ending the first day in 16th place from a world-class field of 288 players.

Three closing birdies at Formby, hosting the tournament along with West Lancashire, helped Gidney to a two-under-par 70 yesterday.

The top 64 players after today's second round go through to the knockout stages, with the overall winner – which will be decided on Saturday – sealing a place in this year's Open and the 2010 US Masters.

And that meant there was work to do for Shropshire's two other representatives.

Ludlow's Welsh international Oliver Farr began day two in 84th position after an opening 74 at Formby, with Llanymynech's Mark Trow 131st after a four-over-par 76 at West Lancashire.