Brilliance on back nine sees Sam join leaders

SAM Horsfield holds a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Soudal Open after a brilliant burst of scoring on the back nine.

His score puts him alongside fellow Englishman Dale Whitnell and Germany’s Matti Schmid.

The 25-year-old, pictured, began the day in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard but slipped back after carding three bogeys and a single birdie on the front nine.

His fortunes improved dramatically after the turn, though, with birdies on the 11th, 14th, 15th and 16th earning him a share of the lead.

A sensational par save followed after he got into trouble at the 17th, and he had to settle for a second-round 69 and an eight-under-par total despite going close with a longrange birdie effort on the last.

Two-time DP World Tour winner Horsfield is relishing the challenge that awaits him this weekend.

He said: “I’m looking forward to it. Every time you are in contention I think it’s always a good thing and I think I’ll just try to go out there tomorrow and do the same stuff I did out there on the back nine today and go from there.”

Whitnell also signed for a 69 in Antwerp yesterday after carding three birdies and a solitary bogey.

Schmid, meanwhile, posted the lowest round of the week so far, making eight birdies and one bogey in his 64.

England’s Richard Mansell and Portugal’s Ricardo Santos were one shot behind the co-leaders in a tie for fourth.

Lev Grinberg’s dream DP World Tour debut will continue into the weekend as the 14-yearold amateur comfortably made the cut after adding a secondround 69 to the 70 he shot on his home course on Thursday to sit five shots off the lead.

■ ENGLAND’S David Skinns fired a superb second round of 63 to claim a share of the clubhouse lead in the AT&T Byron Nelson in Texas.

Skinns, who is in his rookie season on the PGA Tour at the age of 40, carded 10 birdies and a solitary bogey to join local favourite Ryan Palmer on 15 under par, Palmer having also recorded 10 birdies in a flawless 62 at TPC Craig Ranch.

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel lies two shots off the pace following a 65, with Jordan Spieth also shooting 65 to reach 12 under as he warms up for his attempt to win next week’s US PGA Championship and complete the career grand slam.

Skinns spent 15 years on the mini tours before gaining full playing rights on the PGA Tour by finishing in the top 25 on the Korn Ferry Tour last season, largely thanks to victory in the Pinnacle Bank Championship in August.

The Lincoln native has missed nine cuts in 14 starts this season with a best finish of 29th.