Cort bidding for second Festival win

Former European Tour player Matt Cort leads the Asbri Golf Cornish Festival after a three-under-par 69 at Trevose, but he will be hotly pursued by a trio of West players going into his final round at Carlyon Bay.

The Leicester-based man from Beedles Lake, who opened with 70 at St Enodoc, is on two-under-par and chasing a second victory following success in 2016. He nosed one stroke ahead of James Ruth (China Fleet), the only other player under par after 36 holes.

But Ruth, whose four-under 68 at Carlyon Bay propelled him through the field after an opening 75 at Trevose, faces the tougher test at St Enodoc.

European Tour winner David Dixon (Enmore Park) is lurking dangerously a further shot back in third on level par. He can expect the easiest challenge at Trevose where he usually excels. He followed an opening 71 with 70 at St Enodoc.

Nicky Maddison, the Saunton assistant, added a second 71 at Trevose to lay a further shot behind. But players on two-under cannot be discounted and former Ryder Cup player Phillip Price hit form with a one-under 68 at St Enodoc, He is also completing his week at Trevose and is more than capable of eliminating a four-shot deficit.

Luke Towler (Telford Golf & Country Club), the overnight leader alongside Dixon, slipped back with a three-over 75 at Carlyon Bay to also be four behind while Dan Toogood (Weston-super-Mare) is a further shot back in seventh after a par return at Carlyon.

Spare a thought for Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) whose opening 86 at Carlyon was probably the worst of his career. But, typical of his resolve, he followed up with two-under 67 for the best round of the week at St Enodoc.

A welcome combination of sunshine up to 20 degrees and amateur golfers wearing shorts finally brought cheer after horrendous first day windy, wet and misty conditions. But the gusty wind still played havoc so scoring remained substantially higher than usual in the event also supported by Golfbreaks.com.

Piltdown’s Maria Tulley, who learned her golf at West Cornwall, is making a successful return to the Duchy with her team. They remain leading the team event after scores of 82 and 85 to head Caversham Heath pro Barney Wytchard’s trio by four with Germany-based Festival debutant Jonathan Grogan (Hills Golf Club, Sweden) and Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest) sharing third on 162.