WILTSHIRE'S Jordan Smith is in genuine contention at the halfway stage of the 2021 British Masters following two tidy rounds at the Belfry.

The 28-year-old's overall score of four under par leaves the Chippenham man in a tie for eighth at the event which is being hosted by former Masters champion, Danny Willett.

Smith, who is a member of Bowood Golf Club, began his tournament on Thursday with two birdies and no bogeys in his opening eight holes.

He then shot a double-bogey six on the ninth to fall back to level par for the tournament.

A similar pattern followed on the back nine too, with two birdies preceding a bogey on the tricky 18th.

Building on his one-under first round, Smith ended a run of five pars with a bogey on hole number six on Friday.

However, four birdies in his next eight holes rocketed the Wiltshire man up to the top end of the leaderboard.

A further bogey and birdie on 16 and 17 meant no change to his overall score, and Smith will enter the weekend three shots back of the tournament leaders.

There was further good news for fellow Wiltshire golfer, Laurie Canter who recovered from a tough opening nine on Friday to leave himself inside the top 20 going into the weekend.

Canter, who is a member at Cumberwell Park Golf Club, carded a bogey-free round of 70 on Thursday before enduring a much more eventful second 18 on Friday.

The 31-year-old was three over at the turn before a sensational show of character allowed Canter to turn his fortunes around.

A birdie at the 10th preceded a sensational eagle on the par-five 15th, with another birdie on 17 closing out a round of 71.

Elsewhere, Swindon's David Howell missed the cut by four shots following rounds of 74 and 75, respectively.