Sullivan leads the way while Watt ponders his future

Jonathan Watt may have entered the Carrick Neill Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship under the cross of St George but the Englishman last night revealed he would gladly fly the saltire after easing into title contention at Blairgowrie.

The former Hampshire county champion posted a second-round three-under 69 over a breezy Lansdowne course for a six-under 138 to sit two shots behind Nuneaton's Andrew Sullivan, who cemented his place at the top with a 71 for 136.

Watt, who played on the same Stirling University golf team as European Tour winner Richie Ramsay, hails from good Scottish stock, with both his parents coming from Glasgow, and the plus-two handicapper swiftly nailed his colours to the mast after a tidy, four-birdie round.

"Would I play for Scotland? Absolutely," admitted Watt, who has yet to earn international honours with England. "Sporting teams in England always get talked up and I resent that. Most of my family are from Scotland and I'd be proud to pull on the shirt."

Sullivan, who charged to the front on day one with a 65, had a more modest one-under round yesterday while former Australian No.1 Daniel Nisbet lurks just a shot off the lead on 137 after a 68.

The 20-year-old from Brisbane birdied three of his last four holes as he stayed on course to become only the second Australian, after John Sutherland ten years ago, to win the prized Scottish title.

Glasgow teenager James Hendrick was the surprise leader of the home assault on a three-under 141 after a 70, while Greg Nicolson, Walker Cup hopeful Kris Nicol and Mark Bookless, who won the Scottish Boys' strokeplay title at Blairgowrie in 2008, all finished on 142s.

David Law, the former Scottish champion, Irish Open runner-up Gordon Stevenson and Greg Paterson, the leader of the SGU order of merit, were among notables who missed the cut.