By Kent Gray
Josh Hill is eyeing one of his trademark low rounds to haul himself back into contention at the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship in Yorkshire.

The Dubai-based 17-year-old followed up an opening 71 with a two-over-par 73 on the second day of the Brabazon Trophy at Ganton Golf Club on Friday to slip from T-15 to a share of 21st.

At +2, Hill was comfortably inside the cut line (+6) but finds himself nine strokes off the halfway pace set by England lefty international Sam Bairstow.

Bairstow (Hallowes) followed up his opening 66 with a 69 to move to -7, 135, two shots clear of Harvey Byers (Walton Heath). Essex’s Zach Chegwidden is third att -4 after a 71.

Sam Bairstow in action on day two at the Brabazon Trophy. Courtesy: England Golf

“I’d have taken it at the start of the week. I let a couple slip near the end, but I’d have taken a two-under round going into the day,” Bairstow told England Golf of his Friday 69.

“It feels good. I know the golf course well and I’m hitting the ball decent – get the ball in play and my irons shots are good.

“Hopefully I keep going on from there.”

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DAY 1:  Hill six back after solid Brabazon Trophy start

FILE PHOTO: Josh Hill in action during day two of the R&A Amateur Championship at Nairn Golf Club on June 15, 2021. (Photo:Charles McQuillan/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

By Kent Gray
Josh Hill has celebrated his Jacques Léglise Trophy selection with a solid opening round at the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship in Yorkshire.

The 17-year-old Dubai-based England age-group international opened the Brabazon Trophy with an even-par 71 at Ganton Golf Club on Thursday.

Hill shares 15th place heading into Friday’s second round, six shots adrift of overnight leader Matt Roberts (Royal Porthcawl/pictured below). The Welshman holds a one-stroke buffer over England international Sam Bairstow (Hallowes) and by two from Essex’s Zachary Chegwidden (Orsett).

Matt Roberts in action during Thursday’s opening round at Ganton. Photo courtesy England Golf.

MENA Tour winner Hill mixed three bogeys with as many birdies, including a gain on Ganton’s 18th (pictured below) to give him some momentum heading into the second round.

The Trump Dubai International Golf Club member’s next assignment is the Jacques Léglise Trophy. He has been named in the nine-man Great Britain and Ireland team for the annual U-18 matches against Europe at Sweden’s Falsterbo Golf Club on August 27-28 earlier this week.

David Cannon/Getty Images
The green on the par 4, 18th hole and clubhouse at Ganton Golf Club in Ganton, England.

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