Phelan heads Brabazon Trophy field

GOLF DIGEST:BRABAZON TROPHY: Ireland's Kevin Phelan still leads the field in the English Open stroke-play championship for the Brabazon Trophy at Walton Heath in Surrey – but only just. The 20-year-old University of north Florida Student from Waterford Castle went into the second round yesterday with a four-stroke advantage and looked likely to maintain a substantial lead until he slumped to a double bogey six on the final hole to finish with a three over par 75 for a 36-hole halfway total of 143 – one under par.

But his lead had been trimmed to just one stroke and his chief pursuer now is Neil Raymond who fired a 71 yesterday to add to his 73 of Thursday.

Paul Dunne of Greystones on 149 is not completely out of the reckoning after his rounds of 72 and 77. Knock’s Nicholas Grant is on 153 with Reeve Whitson of Mourne and Niall Gorey from Muskerry on the 156 mark. Kelan McDonagh and Richard O’Donovan are way down the field.

LADIES BRITISH OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP:Curtis Cup heroine Stephanie Meadow will today bid to become the first Irish winner of the event since Lilian Behan 27 years ago.

At Carnoustie today Meadow plays 16-year-old Dorset schoolgirl Georgia Hall in the semi-finals this morning. And if successful she will play the winner of the other semi between Spaniard Rocio Sanchez Labato and Perrine Delacour over 18 hole to decide the title.

Yesterday Meadow disposed of fellow Curtis Cup international Amy Boulden, the Welsh champion and France’s Ariane Provot both by 21 margins to move into the last four.

USPGA TOUR:Tiger Woods sunk a 48-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole to move into contention after two rounds of the ATT National at the Congressional course in Maryland.

Woods, starting five shots behind overnight leader Bo Van Pelt, shot a three-under-par round of 68 to move to a two-under total of 140, three behind the leading mark set by the clubhouse leaders.

Van Pelt hit a disappointing second round of 73, including six bogeys, to also total 140. Glasgow’s Martin Laird made a move with a fine two-under 69 to sit on a two-round total of 141. American Robert Garrigus shot seven birdies in a four-under-par round of 71 to move joint top of the leaderboard on 137 alongside compatriot Jimmy Walker and Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge, who both shot 69.