JOHN Bickerton just missed the cut after the second round of the Telecom Italian Open in Milan.

The Droitwich Golf Club member recorded his second succesive par round of 72, but he still fell one short of the cut-off mark.

Yorkshire golfer Richard Finch, however, stepped into the unknown today when he took a one-stroke lead into the third round.

The 27-year-old former English amateur champion is playing only his ninth European tour event, having taken four attempts to come through the qualifying school.

Finch, only 716th in the world and 165th on the Order of Merit, broke the Castello di Tolcinasco course record with his 63 yester-day.

It edged him ahead of Welsh World Cup player Bradley Dredge and forced him to change his plans for the weekend. He was due to attend a friend's wedding in Por-tugal.

"I brought a suit with me and I checked out of my hotel," said Finch, who stands on the 12-under-par total of 132.

It was the second lowest round of his life. The lowest was a 61 at Pyle and Kenfig in the British amateur championship three years ago, but after leading the qualifying stage by five he was promptly knocked out in the first round of match play.

Meanwhile, at the Wachovia Championship, Sergio Garcia has opened up a second round lead.

The Spaniard, who led after firing an opening 66, had little to complain about after a one-under-par 71 at Quail Hollow.

Garcia's steady play left him with a two-shot cushion over Vijay Singh, DJ Trahan and Joey Sindelar.