TURNER ON SONG AT TELEGRAPH JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP ON PORTUGAL'S ALGARVE

Ashton Turner, the Youth Olympic silver medallist, will go into tomorrow’s/Friday’s final round with a great chance to turn around his fifth place in last year’s Telegraph BMW Junior Championship.

On another stiflingly hot day, Turner shot a two-under-par 70 to lie four shots adrift of leader Nathan Brader, the sponsors’ invite who followed his opening 68 with an unwavering 70.

“It wasn’t a round to be proud of so it was more a game of recovery for me,” said Turner.

“There were some wayward holes but I managed to get out of trouble. I’m amazed it was a bogey-free round.”

Turner’s off-course abilities have shone through this week, too. Earlier this year, Turner sent a video to the X-Factor judges and was invited to the live television auditions.

But Turner put his golf ahead of his vocals and was forced to turn down the opportunity of playing Jason Mraz’s I’m Yours, complete with a ukulele.

“Word got around pretty quick, but I hope to try again for the auditions next year,” he admitted.

Turner’s stage will now be Quinta do Lago’s testing South Course, an eight-time venue of the Portuguese Open. His 12-foot birdie on the last was followed moments later by Brader as the Algarve resident, originally from Scarborough, also rolled in for a closing birdie from ten feet.

The two will be joined by Ewen Ferguson, the British boys’ champion. The Scot may be six shots behind Brader, but his 71 was laced with birdies and bogeys to suggest that he could yet pull off a low round.

Meanwhile, Alice Hewson and Samantha Fuller, aged 16 and 14 respectively, will tee it up in the final group in the girls’ competition.

Berkamsted’s Hewson, who has already had offers from 18 American universities, holds a two-shot advantage over Fuller after a one-over-par round of 73.

“Whatever happens, I love being behind,” said Fuller, who found some back discomfort in the closing holes.

The Londoner added: “I can’t wait for the final round and I hit the ball really well. It was getting really hot out there but I’m thrilled to be in this position.”

The pair will be joined by Mollie Lawrence, the Rochester member who continues to impress following her 76.

“It will be great to play in the final pairings and hopefully I can play to their standard,” said Lawrence, who, aged 15, underlined the last three’s youthful qualities.

Second round leaderboard

BOYS

NAME	R1	R2	R3	TOTAL
Nathan Brader	68	70		138
Ashton Turner	72	70		142
Ewen Ferguson	73	71		144
Jamie Li	69	75		144
Jack Singh-Brar	73	72		145
Scott Bryan	75	71		146
Bradley Moore	75	71		146
Arrun Singh-Brar	71	77		148
Gareth Lappin	79	75		154
Joshua Bristow	82	74		156
Ben Dunlop	78	78		156
Daniel Leigh	80	77		157

GIRLS

NAME	R1	R2	R3	TOTAL
Alice Hewson	76	73		149
Samantha Fuller	76	75		151
Mollie Lawrence	78	76		154
Sophie Keech	82	75		157
Lauren Horsford	81	78		159
Ellie Goodall	80	79		159
Danielle Kerr	82	85		167
Lily Downs	90	81		171
Roanne Tomlinson	87	85		172