JOHN Bickerton goes into the third round of the Celtic Manor Wales Open today, three under for the tournament.

The Droitwich ace shot a one under par 71 yesterday to go with his 70 from day one. Hereford's David Park, however, missed the cut by a mile as he bowed out of the tournament on seven over after yesterday's 78.

The surprise leader at Wentwood Hills is Simon Khan. The 31-year-old, from Chingford, fired a record-equalling front nine of 27 and threatened the first-ever round of 59 on the European Tour before having to settle for a 61.

It gave him a 14-under-par halfway total of 130 and puts him in pole position to claim his first European Tour title.