PLEASINGTON professional Ged Furey's hopes of becoming only the second player to win the De Vere Hotels PGA North Region Championship three times were blown away at breezy Blackpool yesterday.

A level par 72 added to his opening 76 at Heron's Reach left him three shots adrift when the cut was made -- but he was in good company as former Tour players Paul Affleck and Stephen Field also failed.

Chorley-based Brian Sharrock, who made a personal fortune when he sold his golf merchandising company three years ago, took pole position on the leaderboard when he tagged a 70 to his first round 66 to lie at eight-under-par.

Sharrock, pro at Horwich, leads by a shot going into today's final round from Bramhall's Jon Cheetham and Matfen Hall's Mike Nesbit.

Chorley pro Mark Bradley also made the cut but there was no joy for Burnley assistant Simon Eaton and Wilpshire's Simon Townend.