Argentine teen Franco Romero lives the dream

Franco Romero experienced the changeable Scottish weather in all its baffling glory yesterday but the Argentine teenager managed to keep himself in the title hunt during the second round of the St Andrews Links Trophy.

Following the warm, sun-drenched and calm conditions of Friday's opening round on the New course, a bitterly cold wind added a whole new layer of menace to yesterday's proceedings but Romero coped admirably and posted a battling level-par 72 on his first competitive outing over the Old course.

Romero, a 16-year-old from Rosario who is currently Argentina's leading amateur, finished in a share of the lead on a four-under 139 alongside Dutchman Daan Huizing, who fired a fine 68.

"It's my first time in Scotland, in fact it's my first time playing in Europe," said Romero, no relation to former Scottish Open winner Eduardo. "After Friday, this was freezing for us. My knuckles were almost blue with the cold. But I am very happy as it has been a dream for me to play over the Old course."

Huizing, third in last month's Irish Open, shot five birdies to ease to the front while Bolivia's Sebastian MacLean, an eighth generation Scot, posted a 71 for a 142.

On the home front, Southerness youngster Scott Gibson had a one-under 71 late in the day to tuck himself in among the frontrunners on 142.

The 18-year-old, part of the Scotland elite squad, finished with a flourish and knocked a wedge to eight feet on the 18th for a closing birdie-three.

"I enjoyed that moment and I absolutely loved playing round here,"

smiled Gibson, who was heading into the closing 36-holes in upbeat mood.

St Andrews New member Greg Paterson posted a 71 for 144 but Fraserburgh's Jordan Findlay, making good progress at three-under through nine, went out of bounds on 14 and racked up a double-bogey before spilling two more shots on 15 when he found the fairway bunker then three-putted on the green. He had to settle for a one-over 73 for a 145.

Englishman Andy Sullivan, the world amateur No.10, had a day he will not forget in a hurry as he aced the 11th hole which kept him on course for back-to-back titles on Scottish soil.

The 24-year-old, who finished birdie-eagle-birdie at Blairgowrie last Sunday to plunder the Scottish Open Strokeplay title, holed his eight-iron tee-shot on his way to a three-under 69 for a level-par 143.