O'Hara surges clear at West Lothian
02/07/2014
Defending champion Paul O'Hara has surged four shots clear of the field at the halfway stage of the Scottish Young Professionals' Championship at West Lothian Golf Club, Bo'ness.
The Clydeway Golf man followed up his opening 67 with a five-under-par 66 for a nine-under-par 36-hole tally of 133.
That put O'Hara four ahead of overnight leader Gavin Hay (Nairn Dunbar) (66-71 for 137) and seven ahead of Keir McNicoll (Gullane) (67-73 for 140).
The leading 34 and ties went forward to play the final 36 holes on Thursday.
O'Hara had a bogey-free scorecard, highlighted by birdies at the third, long fourth, short 11th, long 12th and long 14th.
Hay was not doing too badly with an eagle three at the fourth for the second day in a row and birdies at the 10th, 12th and 14th after starting his round with a bogey.
But the Highlander had a catastrophic finish which saw him drop four shots to par over the last three holes. Hay stumbled badly to a triple bogey seven at the 16th and a bogey at the 18th added insult to injury.
Second best round of the day was a four-under-par 67 by Blairgowrie's Sam McLaren who, as a result, moved up to a share of fourth place on 142 with Paul Betty (Hayston).
McLaren was fourth in this event last year.
He had six birdies over the last 13 holes and would have been fourth on his own but for bogey at the 16th.
Former Scottish Under-18 girls champion Ailsa Bain (Macdonald Cardrona) is lying joint sixth on 144 after a second-round 74.
