Doherty shoots course record to tie lead - 21/10/2005

Jack Doherty equalled the course record in France to go into the final round tied in the lead with Colin Roope and Robert Steele on level par (144) at the Les Bordes Tour Championship.

Persistent showers threatened to ruin the second round of the finale to the 2008 Ivobank PGA EuroPro Tour but the players rose to the occasion, not least Doherty (Picture Financial) whose 68 propels him into contention for the £20,000.

The Scotsman was four over going into the second round and dropped a shot on the first to move to five over but bounced back straight away with birdies at two, four and five. Eight pars followed before he traded a birdie and bogey at 14 and 15. He finished his round with a flourish - two birdies at the final two holes to look in great shape ahead of Wednesday's final round and the course record, which was set by Simon Thornton in Sunday's Pro-Am.

"I didn't really change anything today - other than not carding three bogeys down the back nine like I did in my first round!" said Doherty. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow though, I need to win as second is no good for me so I know what I have to do."

Roope (wstore.co.uk) was joint leader overnight at one under and followed his 71 with a 73, but was left to rue missed chances at the end of his round.

"I'd have taken the scores before the start but I missed a couple of three footers on the last couple of holes," said Roope.

The three-footer at 17 was for par and the one he missed at the last was for a birdie, and Roope said that his putter was the key to his chances of winning the tournament.

"I'm happy with the way I'm playing but I'm not putting well," said Roope. "If I get on the putting green now I'll be up there tomorrow. It's a course that suits my game and I think if you went under par and didn't win you'd be disappointed."

Steele's scores are the reverse of Roope's, with his 71 today containing six birdies and five bogeys following his 73 on Tuesday. The Kenilworth GC man tees off in the final pairing with Doherty at 2.08pm (UK time), while Roope is paired with Paul Hendriksen (Fingle Glen GC) at 1.59pm (UK time). Hendriksen joins Graham Gordon (SWM Golf Management) at two over (146) after shooting 71 today, with Gordon posting two rounds of 73.

Nicky Harris (Whitefield GC), Jamie Moul (Stoke by Nayland), Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill) and Alan Murray are three over (147) after two rounds, while six players at four over (148) will consider themselves well in the hunt on the final day - they are Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre), Jason Kelly (Wentworth), Ricky Lee (Tyneside GC), Aran Wainwright (DP Publicity), John Parry (Harrogate GC) and Lloyd Kennedy (Chelmsford GC).

The final round begins at 9.45am (UK time) with live scoring on what should be an exciting day available by clicking on the Score Updates link on the homepage.

Date Posted: 21/10/08, 5pm (UK time)