Claydon leads the way in Northamptonshire - 12/03/2007

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RUSSELL Claydon has continued his impressive record in EuroPro Tour events this season.

The Whittlebury Park Golf and Country Club, near Towcester, is hosting the 11th tournament of the campaign, which will run until Friday, August 24.

A top-class field has seen 14 out of the top 15 on the Order of Merit competing at the Northamptonshire course, including eight of the nine 2007 winners.

Due to the two-tee start, Claydon (pictured right), 41, a member of the Gog Magog club in Cambridge, began his day at the tenth hole and was still at level par after his first nine holes.

However, he had a much better back nine as he made birdies at the second, seventh, eighth and ninth to claim an early clubhouse lead.

He has only played in four other 2007 tour events but is 19th in the Order of Merit after four top 20 finishes, including a tied second at the other Northamptonshire tour stop - Collingtree Park.

John Spagnuolo (The Hertfordshire), Matthew Woods (Donnington Grove) and Harry Proos (Dunscar) are on three-under, while New Zealander Todd Nicholson, who came first at qualifying school but has failed to make the cut at any event since, is one of many competitors on two-under.

Competition will be fierce for the rest of the tournament as there are only three other regular events to be held before the end of season Tour Championships.

Only those players in the top 50 on the Order of Merit will be eligible to compete in that tournament so every pound earned could prove to be crucial.

There is also a further incentive as the top five at the end of the season will receive Challenge Tour cards for 2008.

However, the sixth person could still be celebrating if Colm Moriarty, who is currently second but not playing at Whittlebury Park, finishes in the top five.

He has already secured a 2008 Challenge Tour card after he won an event on their tour following a sponsors' invite to play earlier this year.

Date posted: August 23, 2007