One Sullivan dropped shot came from a big slice, proof of how one of the most talented ball strikers around is still adapting his game. There were a couple more bogies but two morning round eagles came courtesy of putts of 6ft and 1ft, to go with a pair of birdies.

Sullivan was not alone on 69. Sam Foster was -5 after just seven holes, dropping a shot to finish at -4 whilst Marson found six birdies to match that score.

Four players were out of contention completely after poor opening rounds - Coventry Member Matt Cryer posted a 75, whilst Rob Steele and and Paul Randle were one shot worse on 76. Both had 70s in the second round to achieve some sort of respectability.

The worst score from a past winner was the 84 from two times Open Champion Adrian Carey with an 84. Not happy with his form, and taking a bit of advice on what sort of shafts he should be looking for in his clubs from one of the Amateurs playing, Carey swapped his clubs the night before but could not blame his 84, or his second round 70, only on his clubs.

It hasn't been the best year for Carey. On the other hand Andy Stokes (Lea Marson) was Runner-up in the Midland Masters and lies fifth in the Midland Order of Merit. Stokes would have an opening round of 70 to be the only real challenger from the Professional ranks over the day, notably when with just five holes left to play, Stokes was -6 for the day.

Mark Davies played the par threes in one under par - 'the best I have ever done round here' - but like many found making birdies at the par fives not as easy as it should be. Rounds of 72 and 74 would tie Davies with Steele and Randle on level par 146.

Liam Mallin, like Steele going to first stage qualifying for the European Tour next week, had a 71. He followed it with a 74 and was +1 for the day on the 10 par fives to have no chance of the title.

Marson found tree trouble in his second round and would not figure as the battle between Sullivan, Foster and Stokes took shape. Foster made the first move with two birdies in his first three. Sullivan did not go under par until the third, the first of five birdies in the next ten holes.

It was three steps back then three steps forward for Foster after straight bogies on the 4th through the 6th then three straight birdies from the 7th to the 9th. That left Sam on -8 with nine to play. His chance would go at the par five13th when trying to cut his approach into the green from the right rough resulted in a pull out of bounds - and a 7.

Stokes would make a bogey in his last five. Sullivan made two, one on the 14th and one on the 16th and he nearly had a third at the 17th when a perfectly hit 3 iron to one of the toughest par threes in the Midlands went over the back.

'That was a filthy up and down', said Andy of his floated approach to three foot to save par. It was good enough and a key shot on a day when lots of hard work over the season came to fruition.

'I had a 66 in the mid-week medal at Purley', said Andy, 'I knew that was a great sign.'

It surely was.