Wright stays in control at Nairn Dunbar

Gareth Wright had mixed emotions despite staying well clear of the field at the halfway stage of the Northern Open at Nairn Dunbar.

The 36-year-old West Linton professional backed up his opening 65 in the Tartan Tour Order of Merit event with a 68 for an 11-under-par total.

That gave him a five-shot lead over Gavin Hay, with defending champion Paul O'Hara a further shot back heading into the final two rounds on Thursday.

“It was good again really, it was nice and solid," admitted Wright, who had started the day with a three-shot cushion. "I kind of plotted my way round, that was the gameplan and I pretty much stuck to it.

“If you had offered me 11-under par after two rounds at the start yesterday I wouldn’t have got out of bed, I would have stayed in and watched television.

“Having said that, I was a bit disappointed today as I had five really good chances for birdie from about 12-15ft and didn’t make one of them, although I did hit good putts."

Wright opened his second round with back-to-back birdes, had his only bogey of event so far at the par-4 fourth before making gains at the seventh and ninth to be out in 32.

Coming home, he picked up a fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 13th and had pars before and after that.

“It wasn’t as windy out there today so the greens were a lot more accessible,” added the leader. "The golf course is set up really well and it is there to shoot some good numbers.

“Nothing will change for tomorrow’s 36 holes, we will stick with the same gameplan and see what happens."

This event is the missing link on Wright's Tartan Tour CV and the Edinburgh-based Welshman is determined to finish off the job.

“It will obviously be a bit tougher tomorrow," he said. "Playing 36 holes in a day is a bit more mentally draining and there will be bit more fatigue.

“This is still a really prestigious tournament. It’s the only other 72-hole event on the Tartan Tour schedule apart from the Scottish PGA Championship and any four-round event is extremely welcomed by all the guys.”              

Hay, who hails from Grantown-on-Spey but is now attached to Mearns Castle Golf Academy, moved into second spot after finishing birdie-eagle in his 67.

O'Hara, who led from wire-to-wire when winning at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth 12 months ago, signed for the same score to keep alive his hopes of a successful title defence.

The North Lanarkshire Leisure Ltd-attached player had been a bit ragged in his opening 72 but was bogey-free on the second day as he signed for five birdies.

“The course was there for the taking today, to be honest, as the wind wasn’t as strong today as it was yesterday," said O'Hara.

“I just wasn’t myself yesterday but at least it’s different from last year at Lossiemouth...I’ve got sun cream on today instead of hand warmers and seven layers of clothing last year!” 

Former European Tour player Alastair Forsyth, who won when the event was last held at this venue in 1999, is sitting joint-fourth on three-under alongside Scott Henderson.