ONE of the most exciting finishes of the year is imminent at Les Mielles Golf and Country Club today as a mere five shots span the leading 18 players in the Baker Tilly Channel Islands PGA Players Championship.The benign conditions at the St Peter course and true putting surfaces presented the professionals with a great opportunity to better the course record of 62 (-8) set last year by Paul Simpson.Having fired a first round 65, Mike McLean, started his second 18 holes yesterday with four straight birdies and with a birdie-3 at the ninth, he reached the turn in 31 and went to ten-under for the tournament.A double-bogey six at the tenth followed by a dropped shot at the 12th halted his charge but he recovered and with a closing birdie-2, set the target 132 (-8).In the perfect conditions, this score would always be threatened and a round of 65 to go with his opening 66 gave the lead to Kevin Saunders on 131 (-9).
Saunders’ score was threatened all day but no player could maintain their momentum and at the end of the second round he still held his one-shot advantage.Simon Wood, a previous winner, ruined what looked to be on course for the leading position by making a double-bogey six on the 15th, courtesy of a one-shot penalty and three putts, but he regrouped to shoot a second consecutive 67 for a 134 total.Four-time winner Paul Simpson cannot be ruled out on 133.
Simpson is joint fifth with Hogan Stott and Craig Cowper, the latter who returned the lowest score of the tournament – a bogey-free six-under-par 64.McLean’s score of 132 was matched by Paul Lyons and James Carter – the strange anomaly being that all three players returned scores of 65 in round one and 67 in round two.Lynne Cummins 79/76 performed with extreme credit competing over the same course as the men and Mike Deeley trails Lee Elstone by one shot to decide the leading Jersey-based professional.The opening day’s play resulted in 26 players beating scores lower than par 70.
Joint leaders were Paul Lyons, James Carter and Mike McLean all after 65s.The final round of the Championship started this morning with the leading players teeing off at noon.
