Double on cards for young Fleetwood

Fleetwood won the Kazakhstan Open earlier this month, with the first prize of £55,000 taking him top of the European Challenge Tour rankings and securing his place on the main tour for 2012.

But the 20-year-old from Southport can win almost 10 times that amount with victory at St Andrews tomorrow after storming into contention with a superb 63 at Kingsbarns.

Fleetwood, a former Walker Cup player and English Amateur champion, carded nine birdies and no bogeys to finish 12 under par, sharing top spot on the leaderboard with Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey, who shot 66 at the same venue.

“It feels pretty good,” Fleetwood said. “It’s pretty unexpected to be honest. Just to get the invite and the experience of playing here is great.

“Hopefully, I can shoot a decent score at Carnoustie on Saturday and then play with somebody like Martin Kaymer or Lee Westwood. That would be really cool.”

Former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who lifted the Claret Jug at St Andrews in 2010, is one off the lead after adding a 67 at Carnoustie but will have his work cut out, with 25 players within five shots of the lead going into the final two rounds.

Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell is two shots back on 10 under, while defending champion Martin Kaymer (67) is a shot further behind with Lee Westwood, US Open champion Rory McIlroy and former amateur star Tom Lewis all on seven under.

Sheffield’s Danny Willett hit a 65 at St Andrews to leave himself six shots off the lead, with Simon Dyson two shots further adrift.

Hull’s Richard Finch is two-over, while John Parry is a shot behind.

n Teejay White (Rotherham) came from six holes down to win the two-day Northern Matchplay Championship at Alwoodley.

The 17-year-old, who plays off a three handicap, defeated Stephen Ridley (Bishop Auckland) in the 36-hole final.

Yorkshire’s representatives in the doubles event, Ben Ryland and Ashley Ibbotson (Wheatley Hills), were beaten in the semi-final.

Andrew Whitworth (Halifax Bradley Hall) won the Halifax-Huddersfield Union matchplay event for the 11th time when he defeated Brad Tupman (Huddersfield) 4&3 in the final.