Cort on course for Midlands double

Rothley Park’s Matthew Cort is on course to add the Midlands Open title to the Midlands Masters he won last week.

Cort shot a five-under-par round of 65 at Birstall Golf Club to lead the tournament which is supported by the Mark Group, by a stroke at the halfway stage.

The Masters champion did not drop a shot in a flawless round that contained five birdies in all. The front nine was steady with seven pars but birdies at the second and ninth saw his reach the turn in the red.

He then hit three birdies in a row from the 12th hole onwards to hold the lead outright overnight.

Cort will need to continue his recent form if he is to hold off the challenge of the quartet tied for second.

Last week’s runner-up Andrew Cheese (Sutton Coldfield), Simon Lilly (Wellingborough), Craig Shave (Whetstone) and former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst are all on four-under-par.