Hanson aims for back-to-back tour titles

Leader Lee Harper

Chris Hanson is aiming to become the first golfer in nearly six years to win back-to-back events on the PGA EuroPro Tour.

Hanson, a winner at Bovey Castle last week, moved into contention on the second day of The Rusty’s Travel Classic at Longhirst Hall in Northumberland.

He began the second day five shots behind overnight leader Graeme Clark (Doncaster) but an eagle at the third followed by birdies at the fourth and seventh saw Hanson (Woodsome Hall, Huddersfield) take a share of the lead.

Hanson joins three other players – Lee Harper, Graeme Clark and Trevor Jones – on -4 with one round left.

If Hanson was to finish first tomorrow then he would become the first player to win two successive EuroPro Tour events since Simon Robinson triumphed at Swallow, Suffolk and then at Morley Hayes, Derbyshire in July 2005.

Clark shot a score of 71 (+1) on the second day but ended strongly with birdies at the 17th and 18th to stay in the hunt for the £10,000 top prize.

Scotland’s Harper (Archerfield Links, East Lothian) was an early clubhouse leader on the second day after an inconsistent round of 68 (-2) which included six birdies and four bogeys but took him to -4 for the tournament, and he was later joined on this total by Trevor Jones (Whipsnade Park, Hertfordshire).

James Busby (The Shropshire) produced one of the best rounds of the day with a score of 66 (-4) as he aims for his first Tour victory since August 2009. Busby is currently on -3, the same score as Ireland’s Tim Rice (Limerick) after he shot 69 (-1) today.

The top 50 players and ties have advanced to the final round, but, in tricky conditions, some big names failed to make it.