Shropshire golfer Oliver Farr was today beginning the most important weekend of his golf career to date – after putting himself in contention for Challenge Tour success.

The Ludlow amateur moved up to tied fifth in the 150,000 euros SWALEC Wales Challenge at the Vale of Glamorgan after a one-under-par second round of 71.

That left him with a level par total of 144, and only two shots behind leader Steve Surry – who played in The Open last week.

Farr has enjoyed an excellent summer with a string of solid displays in major amateur events.

But competing strongly against established professionals in a tournament just one level below the main European Tour is taking the 21-year-old’s game to another level.

“I’m really enjoying it out there,” said the Welsh international. “There are leaderboards all around the course and it’s great to see my name up there.

Moving

“My aim at the start of the week was to make the cut so I will probably have to try and set myself another goal now.

“Saturday is moving day so I’m sure there will be a lot of guys trying to put themselves in position to try and win tomorrow.

“But if I can stay around level par, I think I would give myself a chance.”

Only three players carded a lower round than Farr yesterday, who had one birdie and one bogey on a level par front nine.

The Shropshire & Herefordshire first teamer then experienced contrasting emotions on back-to-back par fives, as he followed an eagle three on 12th with a triple bogey eight on the 13th after finding the water and trees.

But he quickly regained his composure and displayed his mental strength with birdies at 14 and 15 to remain firmly in touch.

Farr is one of the players carrying Welsh hopes on home territory after former Ryder Cup star Phillip Price and three-times European Tour winner Stephen Dodd both missed the cut.

By James Garrison