Welch & Rowe Hold Cushion - 13/07/2007

BEN WELCH and Phil Rowe share a one-shot lead at ten-under-par going into the final day of the Towergate Insurance Championship at Maylands.

Rowe has yet to drop a shot in two successive rounds of 66, while Welch (pictured) was one of two players to fire in a superb 64 on Thursday.

The duo are a shot clear of Essex's Justin Brown, who followed up his opening round 65 with a 68, and Northern Ireland's Damian Mooney, who matched Welch's 64.

Mooney, the current PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit leader, carded eight birdies and dropped just one shot in his round.

A 66 from Dean Barnes saw him join John Wells (65,69), Scott Jackson and Stuart Cage (both 66,68) at -8.

Matthew Richardson and Roger Winchester are well placed at seven-under-par, with two 2006 winners on the PGA EuroPro Tour - Neil Walker and Andrew Willey - a further shot back.

A total of 12 players are tied at five-under-par, while rounds of 65 helped Andrew Robson and Russell Claydon to make the cut, which was set at -1.

Christopher Hanson, who won last week's tournament at Bovey Castle, missed the cut by one shot, paying for three bogeys in an otherwise solid second round 70.

A total of 58 players will compete on Friday for the £40,000 prize fund, with the winner taking home £10,000.