Harrold takes control at Longhirst

William Harrold will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Dawson and Sanderson Travel Classic at Longhirst Hall Golf Club on Friday, after carding a five-under second-round 67.

The Norfolk golfer is seven-under after 36 holes and is well-placed to take his second HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour title of the season, in just the third event of 2014.

He leads two-time European Tour winner Bradley Dredge, who has shot two 70s to take second on four-under. Rory Walsh’s (Ashton-on-Mersey Golf Club) 67 in the second round on the par-72 Dawson Course has propelled him to third on three-under with 18 to play. Greg Payne (Chobham Golf Club) and James Maw (Rockliffe Hall) share fourth on two-under.

The winner after 54 holes will take home a £10,000 top prize, plus a brand new Motocaddy trolley and Shotsaver range finder.

Harrold (Sheringham Golf Club) won the opening event of the season, the Matchroom Championship at The Belfry, and a second win would see him close in on securing a Challenge Tour card for 2015, which is awarded to the top five on the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour’s Order of Merit.

Heavy rain made for difficult conditions at Longhirst Hall, but Harrold said he got the better half of the draw in not teeing off in the worst of the weather in the morning.

“It was playing tougher today,” he said. “It was probably two clubs longer per hole compared to yesterday, so it was definitely tougher.

“I got the better draw this week. Not to say that it was easy, but certainly easier than when I was looking out of the window in the morning.

“I will take the final round one shot at a time. That was the idea two weeks ago at The Belfry and I got the win there. I seem to be playing okay at the moment. I did some good work in the second round here and hopefully I can keep that going for the final round.”

Spectator entry to Friday’s final round is free of charge. A cut to the leading 50 players and ties has now been made, with all those with a two-round score four-over-par or better proceeding to play Friday’s final round, which will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to be aired on Sky Sports HD on June 3, with repeats the following day.