Harvey lying second after carving a 66

Claret Jug engraver Garry Harvey could be getting his hands on a surprise piece of silverware after playing himself into contention at the Senior PGA Professional Championship.

The Kinross-based pro, whose annual 15 minutes of fame is to be seen carving the name of the Open Championship winner, shocked himself after carding a four-under-par 66 on the second day of the 54-hole event.

Harvey, runner-up in 2007 when the event was first staged at Northants County, found his touch over the same track to ease to three-under-par – two shots off the lead held by Essex’s Mark Stokes.

The 57-year-old, one three Scots in the top ten along with Edzell’s Alistair Webster and 2011 GB&I PGA Cup captain Russell Weir who are both on level par, recovered from dropped shots at the first and fifth to sprinkle six birdies over the remaining 13 holes to put himself in with a chance of winning the title and a bumper share of the £33,000 prize fund.

“I am absolutely flabbergasted as I haven’t played a lot of golf at all,” said Harvey. “I put the clubs away in September and haven’t played since. I’ve practised a wee bit in January and March but this is the first tournament I’ve played, so I’m wondering where that round came from as I have no idea.”