Gidney has to go solo

Wednesday 30th July 2008, 11:49AM BST.

Shropshire’s hopes of a prolonged run in the English Amateur Golf Championships at Woodhall Spa were today resting on the shoulders of Jonathan Gidney.

The Church Stretton 21-year-old fired a one-over-par 73 on the Bracken course yesterday.

That gave him a two-round qualifying total of 148, which left him safely tucked inside the top 64 – of an initial field of 288 – who went forward to the matchplay stages which began today.

But he faced a tough opener against highly-rated junior international Eddie Pepperell of Drayton Park.

After a promising opening round of 73, Hawkstone Park’s Ashley Chesters crashed to an 82 on the Hotchkin course yesterday to end his hopes, while Shifnal’s Alex Morton also missed the cut with scores of 78 and 77.