Grantown golfer Stewart well up in Kenya

Grantown’s Duncan Stewart is well-placed in 10th position at the halfway stage of the Kenya Open in Nairobi.

The 33-year-old, who narrowly failed to keep his European Tour card last year, followed up an opening round 69 with a second round 68 to end the day on five under par – five shots behind German leader Max Schmitt.

Stewart, who made four birdies on a flawless back nine, is one of five Scots to make the cut. Opening-round leader Ross Kellett shot a second round 73 to drop back to tied 15th on four under par.

Aberdeen’s David Law (–2) is tied 31st after a level par 71, while Jack Doherty and Grant Forrest (both –1) made it safely through to the weekend in the Challenge Tour’s season-opener. However Connor Syme (+2), Chris Doak (+5) and Scott Henry (+8) all missed out.

Leader Schmitt, 19, is making his first appearance on the Challenge Tour after graduating from the third tier Pro Golf Tour, where he triumphed three times as an amateur last season.

He leads by two after rounds of 67 and 65. He said: “I am going to try everything to stay at the top of the leaderboard. I did win three times last year though which I think will help me. It is a very big event.”

Norway’s Kristian Krogh Johannessen (–8) is Schmitt’s closest challenger after a second consecutive round of 67.

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