Fenwick has his shooting boots on at Meldrum

CAPITAL star Neil Fenwick is hoping the time he’s been spending with two former  European Tour winners can rub off on him over the next couple of days.

The 24-year-old carded a  second-round 67 in the  Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open at Meldrum House to move into contention at the halfway stage.

On four-under, he was lying four off the lead in joint-third, behind Banchory boys James Byrne and Greig Hutcheon at the course near Aberdeen.

Fenwick is attached to  Dunbar, where he earned his PGA qualification under Jacky Montgomery.

But he practises a lot at Archerfield, where he’s been rubbing shoulders with Andrew Coltart and DJ Russell.

Two East Lothian residents these days, both of them tasted victory on the main European Tour, while Russell is still going strong on the Senior circuit.

“I’ve got pretty close to  Andrew and DJ,” admitted  Fenwick, who was once on Dunfermline Athletic’s books. “They are both top players  and have been a big help to me.”

Fifth on the Tartan Tour  Order of Merit heading into this week’s event, Fenwick’s goal is to finish in the top three to earn a spot in the end-of-season  Titleist PGA Play-Offs.

“I won the Newmachar  pro-am with a course-record  67 earlier this season but  what I need now is to win an Order of Merit event,” he  declared.

A shot off the first-round lead, former Mortonhall man David Patrick slipped six off the pace after a second-round 72 –  six shots more than Byrne signed for as he took over in pole position.

Braid Hills-based Paul  McKechnie started the third round five adrift after a day-two 68, while West Linton’s Gareth Wright signed for one more to sit seven back.

Other Lothians challengers to make the final two rounds included Duddingston’s James McGhee (71) and Dalmahoy’s Mark Kerr (70) on 140.