Locke leads Barassie Links Masters at halfway stage

Sam Locke, winner of the first Tartan Pro Tour event last year, has another victory on the circuit in his sights after setting the pace in the Barassie Links Masters.

The 2018 Open Silver Medal winner carded a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 at the Ayrshire venue to lead by a shot at the halfway stage in the second event of the new season.

Locke, inset, managed and mentored by the tour’s founder Paul Lawrie, had already made gainsatthefirstandfifthbefore reeling off three birdies on the spin to finish the front nine. He then picked up shots at the 12th and 16th coming home to earn a slender advantage over Ryan Campbell and Rory Smith.

Campbell, who also signed for a bogey-free effort, birded the first, seventh, 10th, 12th, 13th and 15th in an equally-impressive day’s work. That also applied to Smith, who started birdie-bogey before covering the last 14 holes in six-under, including a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th.

Three players opened with five-under 67s, including Jack Mcdonaldonhishomecourse, with his effort being matched by Paul O’hara, runner up in last week’s Montrose Links Masters, and Kieran Cantley.

Neilfenwick,whotoppedlast season’s money list, is within touchingdistanceoftheleadon 68, sitting alongside Challenge Tour winner Jamie Mcleary, Scottish PGA champion Ross Cameron and Danny Kay in joint-seventh.

Former Scottish Amateur champion Michael Stewart was four-over after six holes before covering the remaining stretch in sevenunder for a 69, turning his day around with an eagle-3 at the seventh.