Belt in charge for final push at Collingtree Park

Alex Belt shot a second-round 65 to take the lead in the PDC and World Snooker Open at Collingtree Park in Northampton.

Belt pro is currently nine-under going into the final day of the PGA Europro Tour event, two strokes ahead of James Heath (Robert Heath Heating) who added a 69 to Wednesday’s 68 to put himself into contention on seven-under.

Ben Herbert and George Woolgar (Capital Services) go into the final day tied in third place on six-under.

Leader Belt (De Vere) had missed the cut at each of the first three events this season, but finished the second round in Northampton with an unblemished record.

He got off to a fantastic start with five birdies on the front nine and also broke par at 14 and 17, claiming much of his success is down to his decision to go back to basics.

“I haven’t been playing overly well this week,” admitted Belt. “I have been over thinking things so the key has been trying to keep everything basic and to enjoy myself, which I haven’t been doing recently.

“I had been putting a bit of pressure on myself and I think it was taking a little bit of time to get into a groove at the start of the season.

“I have had the lead a few times now and each time I have made a few mistakes early on. I am going to stick to the same thinking I have had over the last two days.”

Belt will now tee off alongside Heath in the final group. The 2010 Europro Tour Championship winner made bogey twice on the second day, denying himself a share of the lead.

Herbert made the cut for the first time in five events asrounds of 70 and 68 have left him just three off the top after 36 holes. He made five birdies on day two with a solitary bogey on the seventh.

Also three off the lead is Woolgar, who won the Buildbase Open at Frilford Heath in 2012 but has since missed nine months through injury before his return at Burhill two weeks ago. The Chesterfield man has shot 69 twice so far this week and is six-under.

Paul Reed, David Walker, Mark Laskey, Simon Lilly and Graeme Clarke will know a good final round could see them claim the £10,000 winner’s prize. The quintet are five-under-par.

The top 50 players and ties made the cut on one-over-par.

Action from the event will be shown five times on Sky Sports HD on Wednesday, July 3.