England’s Ben Taylor leads the way at Brabazon Trophy

England’s Ben Taylor broke the logjam at the top of the leaderboard at the Brabazon Trophy, running two shots clear at the halfway stage.

There was a five-way tie until the 23-year-old international came in at Notts Golf Club with a second round 70 to add to his opening 69, for a five-under total.

It puts him two ahead of the charging Scottish player, Ewen Ferguson, who shot five-under 67 in the second round and is tied on three-under overall with England’s Jack Singh Brar and Paul Kinnear. 

Taylor’s round was rather more eventful than his first, bogey-free score, but it put him exactly where he wanted to be. “I had the goals of making the cut and putting myself in contention and I’ve achieved both of those,” he said.

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The round consisted of six birdies, including four in a row from the third, but he also had a double and two bogeys.

He summed up: “It was a little bit more adventurous than yesterday but I kept it together, stayed positive and hit some good shots for a pretty similar score. It’s good to get another round in red figures.”

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Second-placed Ewen Ferguson, a past winner of the British boys’ championship, scored two-over in the first round and was determined to be quick off the blocks today.

He was as good as his word and was two-under after three, before giving the advantage straight back with bogeys on the fourth and fifth.

“That really frustrated and disappointed me, but on the next hole I hit driver, three-wood and holed from 4ft for an eagle,” he said.

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After today’s round the field was cut to the leading 60 players and ties who will play the final 36 holes. The cut fell on four-over par and exactly 60 players qualified.