Gavins thrilling Frilford

Daniel Gavins retained his grip on the lead at Frilford Heath Golf Club in the European Tour Qualifying School Stage One Section B.

Gavins opened with a 65 and followed it with a four under par 68 for an 11 under par total – helped by the fact he had two eagles in both rounds – and sits one shot clear of his fellow Englishman Nick McCarthy.

Another Englishman, Matthew Southgate, birdied half the course on his way to an eight under par 64, shifting him up to joint third place, alongside compatriot Lee S James and Scotsman Ross Kellett.

In the other Section B qualifier, Swede Wilhelm Schauman moved to the top of the leaderboard at Fleesensee Golf and Country Club in Germany after seven birdies and one bogey in a 66 took him to an eight under par total.

However, Schauman will be looking over his shoulder as a horde of Scandinavians lie behind him. Fellow Swede and overnight leader Henrik Hilford Brander dropped back one place after a steady round of 70 for a seven under par aggregate, and one shot further back were Danes Jacob Lauridsen and Oliver Suhr, Finn Teemu Bakker and German David Gersztein.

Only six shots separate Schauman from the cut off for advancement to the Second Qualifying Stage.

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