PHIL Archer hoped to stand out from the crowd today in his second round of the '100,000 JJB North West Challenge at Marriott Worsley Park.

The 32-year-old Birchwood touring professional was in a bunch of six players who shared the lead on five- under-par 65 last night.

But Archer reckons that local knowledge, plus the fact he is playing his best golf of the season, will enable him to pull away from the pack.

"Home advantage is a big help, although this is not the same course I played last year," said Archer. "It's completely different, and what they've achieved here is incredible. They've worked wonders.

"If you just miss the fairway you are in fair rough, but if you hit it wide then you are penalised."

Not that any of that troubled him yesterday, when his only blip was a double bogey on the 16th, where he took two shots to escape from a bunker.

Confidence

He added: "I'm swinging solidly and getting my yardages right, leaving myself with mostly uphill putts. I've got the pace of the greens, and since switching back to my two-ball putter I've gained a lot of confidence.

"I'm happy with my score. There's no reason why I can't win this tournament."

On the same mark were Yorkshire pair Simon Hurd and John Mellor, trying to win back his full tour card after recovering from illness, along with Zimbabwe's Marc Cayeux - who threatened to lead outright until he bogeyed two of the last three holes - France's Olivier David and long-time clubhouse leader Michael Kirk, of South Africa.

Jon Cheetham settled for 68, three off the pace, although he rued missing a three-foot putt at the short seventh. It was all a far cry from a week ago when he was playing in the Open at Royal Troon.

But the Mobberley professional put that experience to good use at Worsley, where his lone bogey came after tangling with the rough at the 10th.

"Apart from that I played well, but I need to concentrate today on trying to hit the ball better off the tee," he said.

Replaced

Northop Park's Garry Houston, third in the Order of Merit and well on the way to winning a place on the main tour, was a shot behind Cheetham, who replaced him as M.E.N. Manchester Open champion last year.

Chris Cousins, an amateur at the other Worsley club where his dad Ceri is pro, signed for a 72, which included an eagle two at the 12th. Two shots behind him was Stockport's David Peel, the Cheshire amateur champion.

But there was little cheer for the rest of the regional players. Didsbury's Daniel Wardrop was on 75, and, while Archer was cashing in on local know-how, rookie Prestwich pro Martyn Hamer - who was a member of the club in his amateur days - was struggling to a seven-over-par 77. "I simply was not sharp enough," he said.

England amateur international Richard Walker matched his score and host club pro David Screeton was a shot worse off. There is no charge for entry for the tournament, which finishes on Sunday night.