Blyth spirit as Englishman is new leader

English duo James Blyth (St Andrews) and Penelope Brown (Stirling) are the halfway leaders in their respective events in the 97th Scottish Student Championships at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth.

In the battle for the Jack Allan Cup, Blyth jumped ahead of the overnight leader, Stirling’s Oliver Bailey, thanks to an adventurous five-underpar 67 in the second round on the New Course.

His card featured an eagle at the par-5 third plus five birdies, including three in a row from the 13th, with some of that good work being undone by a double-bogey and two bogeys.

However, the joint best round of the tournament so far earned Blyth a three-shot lead going into the final two circuits as the men’s event switches to the Old Course.

After a second successive 72, Bailey sits in second place, a shot ahead of two other Stirling players, Alasdair Mcdougall, who recovered from a 6 at the first to match Blyth’s 67, and Michael Lawrie (72).

Brown, winner of the West of Scotland Trophy at Western Gailes earlier in the month, now has the Smith-murray Cup in her sights after swapping places at the top of the leaderboard with team-mate Chloe Goadby.

As Goadby could only muster one birdie in signing for a 75, Brown picked up shots at the sixth, ninth and 12th in a stiff morning breeze as she carded a 73 for a four-over total, one ahead of Goadby.

Also in that title battle, which resumes on the New Course before concluding on the Old Course, is Lorna Mcclymont (SRUC) after she stormed into contention on the back of a 70.

On the Tartan Tour, Paul O’hara and Paul Bradshaw joined forces to win the latest PGA Winter Fourball event at Craigielaw, carding a 61 to finish three shots clear of the field.