Wright and McKechnie share halfway lead

Gareth Wright (West Linton) and Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) lead a field of 66 competitors at the halfway stage of the Rowallan Castle 36-hole Order of Merit event at the Kilmaurs, Ayrshire venue.

Both shot two-under-par 69 but there are nine players on 70-71 breathing down their necks and anyone of them could come through to win on the back of a low second-round score.

Wright birdied the long third, 12th and 13th in halves of 34-35. He also had a bogey at the 15th.

McKechnie had birdies at the seventh 12th and short 17th, offset by a bogey at the long 13th in halves of 34-356.

Gavin Hay (Grantown on Spey) 34-36, Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 33-37 and Chris McMaster (Downfield) 33-37 are sharing third place on 70.

Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), who had as triple bogey 8 at the long ninth is one of six players on the 71 mark.

Former PGA champion Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) retired from the tournament after returning a six-over 77.