Cian Curley leads Brabazon Trophy

As Shane Lowry performed heroics at the 3 Irish Open his international team mate Cian Curley was burning it up in the Brabazon Trophy at Moortown near Leeds.

The Newlands' man fired a three-under-par 68 to take a one stroke lead into Sunday's final 36 holes of the weather shortened English Amateur Championship.

The Irish international had five birdies as he raced to the turn in an immaculate 31 but came home in two over par 37 after birdies at the 12th and 15th and bogeys at the 11th, 13th, 17th and 18th.

Cian Curley is in good form at Moortown

Todd Adcock, Darren Wright and recently crowned Irish Amateur Open champion Gavin Dear are breathing down Curley's neck after 69s with Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney (70) and Castle's Dara Lernihan (71) well in the hunt. Tee times

Alan Dunbar and Paul Cutler shot 73 and Curley's Newlands clubmate Andrew Hogan a three-over par 74. Luke Lennox missed the cut after a disappointing 79

Curley said: "I had a very good start, covering the front nine in five under. But I wasn’t so solid on the back nine. It’s a tough finish and I missed the last three greens. But overall I’m happy.

"I’ve been knocking on the door in tournaments back home and I’ve been playing well this year.

Asked if he was a good front-runner, he said: "We’ll find out tomorrow."

Ronan Rafferty was the last Irishman to lift the title when he shared the trophy with amateur legend Peter McEvoy at Hunstanton in 1980.