Yorkshire golf: Masham's Dan Brown right in Brabazon Trophy hunt after 68

Dan Brown (Masham) in action on Friday in the Brabazon Trophy (Picture: Leaderboard Photography).

Brown is looking to add the English stroke play championship to the national match play title he won at Ganton last summer.

If successful, he will keep the Brabazon Trophy on Yorkshire soil in succession to Meltham’s Jamie Bower.

Brown carded five birdies in all, including three in succession from the fourth hole, for scores of 72 68.

He is four back of overnight leader Kyle McClatchie, of South Africa, who added a 66 after opening with a 70.

In-form David Hague (Malton & Norton) shot a second successive level-par 73 to lie 25th, undermining three birdies with three bogeys.

Shipley’s Will Whiteoak (74 74) finished his round with 11 straight pars, and his round scores were echoed by Yorkshire champion Ben Hutchinson, of Howley Hall, who had two birdies and three bogeys, one of the latter coming at the 18th.

Lindrick’s Sam Rook looked like missing the cut, but enjoyed a fantastic finish, birdieing his last four holes for a two-under-par 71 to add to Thursday’s 79.

The Oaks’ James Walker has chalked up the same scores, but in the reverse order.

Having been the leading Yorkshireman on day one he fell back with a 79 that included five bogeys and a double bogey.

Rotherham’s Lewis Hollingworth is alongside Walker and Rook, right on the cut mark, after two 75s.

He produced four birdies, but also dropped shots at two holes as well as enduring a pair of double bogeys.

Among those who missed the cut were Lindrick club-mates Bailey Gill (75 77) and Nathan Fell (80 75), last year’s England Boys’ Order of Merit winner Charlie Thornton, from Fulford (75 81), and Hickleton’s Luke Palmowski (79 81).

A week ago Brown had to pull out of the French amateur, while in contention, because of a foot injury.

But he has played 36 holes without problems at Woodhall Spa.

“I hit the ball a lot better off the tee (Friday) and I was really solid on the back nine where there’s a few flags you don’t want to miss on the wrong side,” said Brown.

“It all feels good and I couldn’t ask for much more really, having had a few days off with injury.”

Leader McClatchie was seven under on Friday. Having holed a pitching wedge for an eagle two on the outward half, he added another eagle on the back nine and also collected six birdies as his putter grew steadily hotter.