Hampshire's Neil Raymond is tied for 12th at the halfway stage of the Brabazon Trophy, but trails the leader by eight shots.

The Corhampton player is attempting to win the English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship for a third successive year, something no player has ever achieved, but has a lot of ground to make up over the last two days.

Raymond followed up his initial two-over-par round of 74 with an identical score on day two at Formby. Despite starting and finishing well, he was hurt by a run of four bogeys from the ninth through to the 12th.

Bowood's Jordan Smith leads the way and is the only player below par, on four-under.

Meon Valley's Harry Ellis shot five-over-par on day two, moving to eight-over for the tournament and putting him in a tie for 39th. Rowlands Castle's Billy McKenzie added an 84 to his opening round of 80.

A full leaderboard can be found here.