Rachel Gourley ends topsy-turvy day atop Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship leaderboard

The famous Old Course here at Walton Heath, with its three par-fives coming in and its irresistible risk-and-reward nature, has always lent itself to exciting fluctuations on the leaderboard and this second day of the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship only emphasised the parkland’s propensity for swift drama.

After eight holes, Rachel Gourley was on six-under and six clear in the girls field. But then fellow England international Lottie Woad went on a tear and suddenly with a hole remaining Gourley, the 17-year-old from Northumberland, was only one ahead.

“I was thinking ‘I’ve let this slip’ and was a bit down, but then I came in and saw what had happened to Lottie on the last and that I was three clear,” Gourley said. “Lottie’s a friend and I wouldn't wish that on her but at the end of the day this is a tournament I want to win, so I must admit I am feeling happier than I was.”

Woad would expect nothing else. A gritty campaigner with five titles to her name this season, the 17-year-old from Farnham, stood there staring disbelievingly at the leaderboard for five minutes before she felt able to explain the triple-bogey on that closing back four. “I flushed my drive and had a wedge in my hand from the middle of the fairway and took six to get down,” Woad said.

“I hit the green but it spun into a bunker where it found a horrible lie. I tried to get it out but it ran back into my footprint. It took me two more and that sent me back from four-under to one-under and turned a 67 into a 70. I know I’m still in touch but its hard to take at the moment.”

Gourley expects Woad to bounce back. “She’s a determined performer but then so am I and I really want to win this title,” she said, after her 72. “It’s been a bit of a frustrating year and it would be great to get this piece of silverware, especially with Justin’s name on it. I’ve got a lead but it should be a fun last day and it’s not just me and Lottie {with Olivia Williams on one-over] and other players could launch a challenge. And yes, I will be wearing my shorts. Where I come from, this isn't cold.”

It certainly seemed it as the mist enveloped the layout and the tee-times were pushed back two hours. The sun never managed to gain the advantage thereafter, although there was plenty of good golf to warm up the spectators. The boys’ tournament featured a gripping final three-ball that ultimately saw Harley Smith produce a stunning late burst to grab a three-shot cushion over first-round leader Angus Buchanan.

Earlier this season, Smith joined Rose as the only players ever to win the Carris Trophy (the England Under-18s Championship) and the McGregor Trophy (the England Under-16s) in the same year and his quality was in full and glorious evidence from the 12th. A birdie on that driveable par four was followed by two more on the back-to-back par-fives and when he eagled the 16th, it meant he was five-under for five holes. Harley had slipped into another gear.

“I’ve emulated Justin this year and it would be brilliant to do so again and win the tournament in his name that he won as a teenager [in 1997],” Smith, 16, said following a 67 that took him to seven-under.

“I’m not being big-headed but I didn't have my best game in the first round or on the front nine today but I just found my rhythm Angus. battled back well after a shaky start [he was five over for the round after the seventh, before making five birdies for a 72] and Kris [Kim, the 14-year-old] is obviously a huge talent and is only four back [after a 72]. I’m looking forward to it. Loads can happen here”