Owenson’s 63 at Moray trims 23 shots off opening effort

Paul O’hara holds a threeshot lead at the halfway stage in the Northern Open after easier conditions for the second round at Moray Golf Club saw a dramatic improvement in scoring at the Lossiemouth venue.

No play was possible in the morning due to more rain but, as the sun broke out after a two-tee start was implemented, almost everyone in the field managed to better their efforts in brutal first-day conditions.

The biggest improvement came from Gullane’s Marc Owenson, who took 23 fewer shots than his opening score as he carded an eight-underpar 63. The flawless effort was lit up by birdies at the second, third, sixth, seventh, eighth, 13th, 16th and 17th.

On seven-over for the event, Owenson sits nine shots behind O’hara after the Lanarkshire man backed up his brilliant 72 in those foul firstday conditions with a 68 to lead from Greg Mcbain (66), with Paul Mckechnie (66), Gavin Hay (66) and David Orr (69) all a further shot back.

“I positioned the ball well today and will just try to play the same tomorrow in the final 36 holes,” said O’hara, who also has a nine-shot cushion over defending champion Greig Hutcheon while former European Tour player Alastair Forsyth is ten shots back.

Elsewhere, there was no play at Royal Aberdeen on the second day of the Scottish Women’s Championship, meaning that the qualifiers for the match-play phase were decided on one round for only the second time in the post-second World War years.

The second qualifying round in the 103rd national championship was cancelled at 12.30pm because it would have been touch and go for the field of 70 to have got round in daylight with the possibility of a play-off for the last match-play ties also to be taken into consideration.