CIRENCESTER Golf Club head pro Ed Goodwin and club member James Harding, who works for Dyson in Malmesbury, are sweeping all before them at the halfway stage of the Lombard Trophy in Portugal.

A blistering back nine to match the heat at the Pestana Vila Sol resort on the Algarve gave them a one-shot lead after the opening round in the 36-hole competition.

There was no indication that Goodwin and nine-handicapper Harding would lead the better ball event after nine holes when they were on level par at the turn but they hit five birdies in the space of seven holes on the way back to post a 67.

Goodwin said: “I’m exceptionally pleased with that. It was a good way to finish, especially as we made par at the two tricky closing holes.”

The 17th and 18th are not alone in presenting problems, however, and Goodwin added: “The course is in fantastic condition and is very challenging.

“You can’t blast drives all over the place – it’s very tight in places and you’ve got to plot your way round. We’ve made a good start but there’s a long way to go.”

Fourteen PGA professionals and their amateur partners have come through several qualifying rounds to get to the final of Europe's biggest pro-am which boasts a winner's cheque of £12,000, and eight shots cover the entire field ahead of the final 18 holes today (Friday).

Goodwin and Harding are just a shot clear of Keighley Golf Club duo Andrew Rhodes and Luke Robert and Jason Fullard and Lee Buckingham from Torquay Golf Club, both pairs having shot 68.