MICHAEL WELCH has moved into the lead during the second round of The Sky Sports International at Heydon Grange.
Welch began the second day at -7, a shot behind overnight leaders Ben Welch and Barry Hume, but shot a four-under-par 68 to move into pole position at -11.
For the second successive day he hit an eagle at the first and then added a birdie at the seventh, although a double-bogey at the par three eighth dented his challenge.
He regained his cushion with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 16th holes, giving him enough of a cushion to bogey the 17th before ending on -4 for the day.
Mark Smith shot a 67 on Friday to move out to -9 for the tournament, and Damian Mooney followed up his opening round 66 with a 69 to join him on 135.
Robert McGuirk, the winner of The PokerMillion.Com Championship a fortnight ago at Collingtree Park, followed up an opening round 70 with a 66 on Friday to move out to -8.
He joined Hume on that score, after the overnight joint leader produced a par round of 72 on Friday.
Russell Claydon, who was at level par following the opening round, shot 67 on the second day to move to -5 and join a total of 24 players under par.
A further update will be issued later on Friday at the close of the second round.
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