A SECOND-HOLE eagle helped Marlborough teenager Ben Amor take the halfway lead at the Carris Trophy at West Lancashire Golf Club yesterday.

The 18 year old holed his third shot from 70 yards and added five more birdies for a round of 67 and a two-shot lead at the midway point of the England U18 amateur championship.

Amor, two ahead of Bobby Keeble, Jordan Boulton and Renato Paratore, one of three Italians in the top 11 players, said: "The eagle got the round going.

“I played well, my course management was good, a holed some good putts and didn’t get ahead of myself.

“We’ll just have to see what happens for the next two days. This is my first crack at the Carris but I don’t have a good record in national championships.

“I’ve missed the cut twice in the McGregor Trophy (U16 Championship) in previous years but I didn’t play any national events last year.

"But I’ve had a solid start to the season. I finished seventh in the McEvoy, second in the South West U18s and third in the Welsh Youths.”

Amor, the son of Marlborough Golf Club professional Simon, added: “I’ve put a lot of effort into my golf in the past couple of years without getting any rewards.

“This year things have clicked a bit but you’ve just got to post numbers and hopefully I’ll play well for the next two days.”

A total of 68 players survived the cut on 152, eight over par, and will contest the final two rounds.

MORE ON AMOR'S PROGRESS AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK/SPORT TOMORROW