Scorching 62 sends Andy Sullivan into the lead

Andy Sullivan took a one shot lead after round two of the English Championship, firing a nine under par round of 62 as the sun shone on Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club. 

The Englishman is seeking his fourth European Tour win – and his first since the 2015 Portugal Masters – and he recorded the lowest round of the week to get to fourteen under par and lead a strong home presence at the third event of the UK Swing. 

“It was very satisfying. I’m really happy with my day’s work. Yesterday and today were both slow on the front nine and didn’t get into my flow with the swing and wasn’t moving it the way I wanted to. Then on the back nine I freed up a little bit and got the putter going. I holed a lot of nice putts out there. I got a little bit of luck here and there as well, which when you shoot a low round it tends to go that way,” Sullivan said.

“If you are swinging it well, you feel like any week you can compete. It’s just nice to be playing good golf and being up there regardless of which course it is on, whether it is easy or tough. This course does offer a lot of birdies sit it’s not one of those courses where you can sit back on your laurels and rest on it. You’ve got just keep going forward because you know the guys behind you will be making birdies. 

“It would have been great with crowds obviously, but it is just great to be back playing tournaments at the moment and not sat on the sofa being uninspired and unemployed. It’s awesome and great to be back in the UK and to all the fans at home, I hope you are enjoying the golf and hopefully we can provide some entertainment at the weekend.”

South African Dean Burmester matched Sullivan’s back nine 28 in a round of 63 that left him a shot off the lead alongside another Englishman in Laurie Canter, who recorded a 65.

Three further home favourites in Richard Bland, Steven Brown and Andrew Johnston are among a group of nine players two shots further back on 11 under par.

Sullivan is currently tenth in the UK Swing Order of Merit after the first two events, with the top ten after the sixth and final tournament sharing an an additional £250,000 to donate to the charity of their choice. The top ten not otherwise exempt after the fifth event will also gain spots in the U.S Open at Winged Foot next month.