O’Hara on course to retain his crown

Defending champion Paul O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure) has opened up a five-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Scottish Young Professionals' Championship at West Lothian Golf Club, Bo'ness.

O'Hara followed up his first round of 67 with a six-under-par return of 65 to be 10-under-par after 36 holes.

His bogey-free round included an eagle at the par-four 16th and birdies at the fifth, 10th, 15th and 18th. 

Marc Owenson (Gullane), who shared the overnight lead with O'Hara, dropped back to a share of second place after a 70 for 137, the same mark as Alastair Forsyth (Mearns Castle).

Forsyth shot a 66, which featured six birdies and a bogey at the eighth.

Owenson started with a birdie before dropping shots at the second and fifth. A birdie at the seventh helped him to turn in 36. On the way home in 34, he had eight pars and a birdie at the par three 15th. 

Thirty-four players with totals of 148 and better qualified for the final two rounds.