Graham Fox leads charge at Dundonald

Heather MacRae (Gleneagles) was the early leader with a two-under-par 70 in the first round of the 36-hole Dundonald OOM Challenge but by the end of the day she had been demoted to a share of sixth place in a field of 71.

Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) took over the pole position with a 66, but Heather, who had birdies at three par-five holes, the third, fifth and 18^th, as well as the par-four 12, could still boast that she had the same score as Tartan Tour No 1 Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre).

Fox had seven birdies and one bogey in halves of 31 (five-under) and 35 (one-under). His only dropped shot came at the 18^th hole, a par five which cost him a six.

Earlier he had a run of five birdies in six holes between the third and the eighth.

Stablemate Paul O'Hara and Pauil McKechnie (Braid Hills) will start the final round one off the pace. McKechnie's 67 was made up of halves of 35 and 32, while O'Hara got rid of his bogeys second and fourth) early in halves of 34-33.

The two players sharing fifth place on 69, Sam Binning (Mearns Castle) and Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) both had double bogeys. Binning ran up a five at the short 15^th in halves of 34-35 while McBain had a seven at the long fifth in halves of 37-32.