Chris Doak's stunning 61 puts him five shots clear of Gleneagles field

On another benign golfing day in Perthshire, the 32-year-old from Greenock took advantage of the perfect scoring conditions and blasted a dazzling 10-under 61 for 14-under 128 which thrust him into a commanding five-shot lead over Greg McBain and Craig Lee heading into the weekend's action.

Doak, who has been working on his game with the redoubtable Bob Torrance, is no stranger to spectacular rounds, having produced a memorable 62 during the European Tour's qualifying school final in Girona back in 2008 on his way to earning his place on the main circuit. His 10-birdie effort yesterday, which was just a shot off the King's course record of 60 set by Englishman Paul Curry in the 1992 Scottish Open, was even more rousing, however.

Doak, who began an eventful week by being disqualified from the European Challenge Tour's Roma Open in Italy, said: "The Spanish round was pretty special and I've had a 10-under score in a bounce game before but given that this is the national championship and it's at such a special place like Gleneagles, this has to be the best round of my career. It was one of those days when everything was good but the key was that I putted very well and only had 26 of them."

Doak's second round charge ultimately left the rest of the field trailing in his wake but, for a brief period, it was surprise package McBain who had set the target with a fine eight-under 63 as he barged up the order with 133. The 26-year-old, who won the Scottish Assistants' title in 2008, is making his debut in the national championship, but, having won a domestic matchplay event over the King's course last week, the Royal Dornoch man has returned to the same venue in good spirits.

"I've not played a lot recently because I've been finishing my PGA exams," said McBain, who finished with a flourish and holed a pitch from 60 yards for an eagle three on the last. "It's nice to perform like this in my first appearance in the championship."

McBain was joined on the nine-under mark by first round leader Lee, who passed on the plaudits to Doak but remained disappointed with his own 68, that comprised 16 pars, one birdie and an eagle. "It was a phenomenal round by Chris," said Lee. "It's easy to say that a score like that was on today given the conditions but you have to go out and do it. My 68 looks very average in comparison and I'm disappointed not have taken more out of the day because I struck the ball very well."

Greig Hutcheon, the leader of the Tartan Tour's order of merit, posted a 67 for 134 to share fourth with David Patrick, Gareth Wright and Mark Kerr while Aberdonians Scott Henderson and Graeme Lornie got in on the low-scoring bonanza as they lifted themselves up the field.Henderson shot 65 for a 135 while Lornie, runner-up in the 2008 championship, carved out a superb 63 which shaved 10 shots off his opening effort.

"I was very angry after the first day as I'd put so much into the build-up only to play terribly," he said. "I gave myself a bit of a talking to and came out with a totally different attitude."

Defending champion David Orr missed the cut by a shot on 146 after a second-round 70.