Rowlinson lies waiting to pounce

DAVID ROWLINSON remains firmly in the hunt for both the scratch and handicap honours at the halfway point of the island's unofficial strokeplay championships at L'Ancresse. The island player lies four shots off the lead in the U. V. Trophy standings (off handicap) and a similar amount on the Credit Suisse Trophy leaderboard where Bobby Eggo continues to set the pace.

There is no change, either, at the top of the handicap leaderboard.

After their opening 64s Dave Roberts and Peter Radford held their form sufficiently to remain in the top two spots.

Roberts leads by two strokes after a second round 71, while second-placed Radford enjoys a two-shot buffer on Rowlinson and Brian Chapman after his 73.

But with eight shots covering the top 16 there remains plenty of scope for change in the U. V. standings.

The day's best rounds came from Eggo and Tony Harris.

Eggo's one-over par 71 was the best gross score and it would have been sub-par had it not been for an uncharacteristic double bogey six at the 11th.

Harris, playing off 15, shot a net 66.

Having opened with a par he reached the turn in just 38 shots thanks to five pars on the bounce from holes five to nine.

It was not until the 16th that the wheel-nuts began to loosen and a six at that hole was followed by another up the 17th.

However, a three to finish saw him post the best net score of the day by two from the defending champion Tim Loveridge.

After an opening 81, he hit back with a fine 68 to cut the deficit on the leader to 14.

Mick Marley was also in fine form four days before his CI matchplay final.

He returned a two-over 72 and is six behind Eggo in the Credit Suisse Trophy chase.