HEREFORD golfer David Park has closed to within three shots of the leader at the Celtic Manor Welsh Open.

The 30-year-old Welshman birdied three of his first six second-round holes this morning to add to his first-round 68 yesterday, taking him to four under for the event.

Fellow professional John Bickerton, however, was not enjoying success of recent years at the Newport course. Resuming at level par, the Drotiwich Spa resident dropped two shots in his first nine holes to slip to two under par.

The Welsh Open provided the 35-year-old with his best results in 2004 and 2002, finishing joint fifth and outright second respectively.

Ian Woosnam leads the event on seven under par.