Golf: Blaney ready to pounce

Lothians teenager Anthony Blaney was heading into the second round of the Scottish Open under-16 championship at Auchterarder today in a good position to mount an assault on the leaders.

The Liberton youngster, part of the Lothians side that won the Boys' Area Team crown last month, posted a level-par 69 to finish in a share of fifth, four behind joint frontrunners, Haydn Porteous of South Africa and Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil. Two-over after 14 holes, Blaney produced a late rally with a trio of birdies at 15, 16 and 17 to dip under-par but a another dropped shot on the 18th halted his charge.

Ross Brydon, from the Merchants of Edinburgh, was the next-best local hopeful on 71 with Euan Bowden of the Glen back on the 72 mark.

At the head of the field, Neil, last year's Scottish under-14 champion, reeled off six birdies in a four-under 65 to share top spot with Porteous, who bounced back from a double-bogey on the first with a bag of five birdies and an eagle.