Graham Benson shot a second-round 66 to move to the top of the Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters leaderboard ahead of Friday’s final round at Rowallan Castle in Ayrshire.
The Englishman is six under par after 36 holes and leads by one to Ireland’s Michael McGeady, with four players tied for third on four under par including 18-hole leader Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey).
Benson (Leighton Buzzard Golf Club) was one under after 18 holes and began day two on the ninth tee. After four straight pars he made birdie four at the 13th but dropped a shot with a six at the par-five 16th.
A second birdie was made at 18 and another followed immediately with a three at the first. An eagle three at the third propelled Benson further up the leaderboard and he added a final birdie at six to complete his second round five under par.
McGeady (McCambridge Duffy) was second overnight and remains in the same position after signing for a one-under-par 70 on Thursday.
Starting at the first the Irishman made birdie at three and seven but a bogey at 10 pegged him back. He made amends immediately with a birdie three at 11 but bogeys at 12 and 14 took his round to level par.
A final birdie at the 16th ensured McGeady would remain second on five under par after 36 holes.
Overnight leader Stewart started with a bogey at nine and a birdie two at the 10th. A second birdie was recorded at the 15th but bogeys at one and six forced the Scotsman to sign for a 72.
Tied third on four under par with Stewart are Matt Allen (Berkshire GC) and Welsh duo Stuart Manley (Machynys Peninsula) and Oliver Farr (Worcester GC).
Allen and Farr were both level par after 18 holes but each made four birdies in the second round to soar up the leaderboard.
Manley is currently fifth on the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit and is the only member of the top 10 yet to win an event this season.
The Welshman was one shot over par overnight but shot seven birdies on Thursday. Two bogeys kept Manley from sharing the 36-hole lead but he is well placed on four under par after his second-round 66.
Jamie Howarth (De Vere Mottram Hall), Paul Cutler (Portstewart) and David Law (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) are tied seventh, three shots off the lead on three under par.
A cut of the top 50 players plus ties has now been made, with golfers whose 36-hole scores are four over par or better proceeding to play the final 18 holes on Friday.
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