Michael Saunders jumps to five-shot lead at South of England Amateur

TADWORTH, England — A two-way tie for first gave way to a five-shot lead through two rounds at the South of England Amateur Championship. Englishmen Cameron Shaw and Thomas Robson posted 68 on day one, but it was 24-year-old Michael Saunders, also of England, who will enter the final day with a sizable lead. Saunders fired his second straight three-under par 69 to lead Jordan Garnish heading to a 36-hole day on Thursday at Walton Heath Golf Club. The two first-round co-leaders, Shaw and Robson, both shot in the 80s on Wednesday as Shaw, a junior at Cal-Berkeley, shot 80 while Robson posted 81. They are 10 and 11 shots back of the lead, respectively. Scoring proved to be more difficult during round two as only two players — Saunders and Jake Burnage — broke 70. Burnage's 69 followed up an opening-round 76 and places him in a tie for sixth.