Scots well up in the north

ABERDOUR’S Scott Crichton moved into a tie for second as the six-strong Scottish contingent stayed on course to make the match-play phase of the Northern Amateur Open at Randpark.

On a day when South African No 1 Brandon Stone slumped to a 77, Crichton followed his first-round 68 with a three-under-par 69 to sit just one behind the leader, Zander Lombard.

With the top 32 qualifying after another two stroke-play rounds today, Brian Soutar (Leven Golfing Society) and Paul Shields (Kirkhill) are also sitting inside the top ten, tied for eighth on 141, with Soutar, the new South African Amateur champion after beating Stone in the final just under a fortnight ago, having improved thanks to a 68.

Lundin’s James White slipped to 13th after a 74, but is still in with a decent chance of qualifying. So, too, are Dunbar’s Danny Kay (71 for 145), and Balmore’s Fraser McKenna (73 for 146).