Parry leads the way in India

JOHN PARRY is in pole position to mount a serious challenge for his maiden European Tour tournament in only his fifth event as a fully-fledged member after moving into a share of the halfway lead in India yesterday.

The 23-year-old Harrogate professional – who fired a five-under par 67 on Thursday – led the Avantha Masters in New Delhi yesterday after reaching the turn in 31 strokes, an eagle three at the par-five 18th – his ninth – the undoubted highlight.

Another birdie at the 11th moved him to 11 under before a bogey on the 15th dropped him back into a share of the lead with Barry Lane and Taiwan's Chan Yih-shin.

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That is where he stayed after a hailstorm brought an abrupt end to the day's play as Parry played his final hole. He resumes this morning.

Top prize in India this week is 250,000 euros (217,653) while a second consecutive top-10 finish would go a long way to securing a tour card for next year for the 2005 Yorkshire Amateur champion who only graduated to European golf's premier level through last season's Challenge Tour.

Hull's Richard Finch is just four shots off the pace after a second consecutive 69.

England's Lane, 49, is set to join the Senior Tour in June and has only finished in the top 30 twice in the last two years.

"It can be hard work being an old man out here," Lane admitted. "These young guys are bombing it past you at times but it is nice to know I can still compete."

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