Hanson Continues His Impressive Season - 21/03/2007

CHRISTOPHER Hanson has edged closer to winning his first PGA EuroPro Tour event of the season.

Huddersfield-based Hanson, 21, is currently eighth in the Order of Merit list and the highest ranked player to have not won a competition this year.

But that could soon change as he fired a six-under opening round at the Maylands Golf and Country Club near Romford, Essex, to establish a joint lead in the ninth tournament of the 2007 campaign.

Hanson (pictured right) has finished in the top ten on four occasions since May and is on course for another high spot after a round of 65, which included four birdies in five holes.

He is joined in first place by Daniel Wardrop (Didsbury Golf Club) and Essex duo Paul Curry (Colne Valley) and Jason Levermore (Clacton on Sea).

A number of local players performed well on day one as other Essex golfers Lloyd Kennedy (Chelmsford, five-under), Steve Cipa (Upminster, four-under) and Craig Housden (Channels, four under) all occupy places in the leading 15.

Teenager Richard Gurney (Kings Norton, Worcestershire), who at 19 years old is one of the youngest players on the tour, turned professional earlier this year.

But he could be on the verge of claiming the best finish of his career after being only one shot behind Hanson on five-under. Gurney's previous best performance came in June when he ending in tied 40th at another Essex course, Stoke-by-Nayland.

Other players performing well included Tim Butler (Donnington Grove, Berkshire) and Brett Taylor who are both on five-under, while a host of other competitors are on four-under.

Guy Woodman (Stoke Part), a winner in event five at Collingtree Park, Northampton in May, is well placed at four-under to make the cut for only the third time, after five birdies at the first six holes he played.

James Conteh (Moor Park), the son of former WBC Light Heavyweight boxing champion John Conteh, could play on the final day for only the second occasion this year after a two-under round of 69.

Stoke-by-Nayland victor Michael McDermott, a member of Stackstown Golf Club, the same club as 2007 Open winner Padraig Harrington, needs a better second day as he is currently outside of the top 50 and in danger of missing the cut after an opening two-over score.

Date updated: August 2, 2007