Law makes his move at Northern Open

David Law, winner of the title as an amateur two years ago, came storming home in six-under-par 29 for the second day in a row to surge three strokes clear of the field at the halfway stage of the Northern Open at Meldrum House.

With rounds of 63 and 65 over the par-70 course, the 22-year-old former Scottish amateur kingpin, who plays out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, is on the 12-under-par mark.

Late finisher Law dislodged overnight leader and fellow Aberdonian Scott Henderson who, despite a return of his putting problems, had led for several hours on nine-under 131 after following up an opening 62 with a 69.

"It was slightly more difficult today. There was a one-club wind on certain parts of the course that made it tricky and explains why the overall scoring was not quite as good as on Tuesday," said Law.

“I led the Northern Open by two shots after three rounds when I won the title in 2011. To lead by three after two rounds is fine but it won't make any difference to my game plan. I still have to go for the birdies.

"I made a slow start today and was one-over- par after nine holes with bogeys at the fourth, sixth and ninth cancelling out birdies at the first and fifth.

"But I stayed patient, knowing that the birdie chances on the inward half had still to come. And I was able to take them."

Law birdied the short 10th, the long 11th, the 13th, the short 15th, the long 16th and the 17th.

"I left one in the jaws at the last but I can't complain about 29 shots for an inward half."

Henderson, winner of the Northern Open in 1996, lost the putting touch he thought he had found in the first round. He missed some three or four-footers early on, which did not do his confidence any good, and he three-putted three times later on.

"Apart from failing to hole some short putts, basically, I failed to take advantage of the three par five holes, the fifth, the 11th and 16th, all of them birdie chances, but I could only par them all," said Henderson.

His four birdies came at the sixth - a tap-in putt - the eighth - he was able to hole out from three feet at this one - the 15th, where he holed his best putt of the round, from about 20 feet, and the 17th where he sank a six foot putt.

Sharing third place at halfway on 133 are defending champion James Byrne (Banchory) (67-66) and Panmure's Andrew Crerar (68-65).

Byrne felt it was not one of his better ball-striking rounds so he was quite pleased to come off with a four-under-par round.

"Even a year ago, I might have become quite frustrated out there but I am a little bit wiser and older and I just kept calm and waited for things to work themselves out," said James.

The race for the leading amateur trophy, the Bookless Cup, looks a straight fight between the new Scottish amateur champion Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) and Cawder's Jamie Savage.

Culverwell is on 138 after rounds of 71 and 67. Savage is a shot behind after scores of 66 and 73. Savage, 19, had 37 putts in the second round.