DOAK LEADS NORTHERN BY ONE

Former Scottish boys match-play champion Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) posted a second-round 69 over the so-tough Spey Valley course at Aviemore to hang on to leader Chris Doak's bootlaces at the halfway stage of the Tartan Tour's 72-hole event.

Doak had followed up his first-day 68 with a 70 for an impressive six-under-par tally of 138. Harper is on 139.

Jason McCreadie, like Doak a previous Northern Open winner, is on his own in third place on 140 with a pair of 70s.

Best score of the day was a 68 by Largs pro Eddie Thomson.

LEADERBOARD

Par 144 (2 x 72)

138 C Doak 68 70.

139 L Harper 70 69.

140 J McCreadie 70 70.

141 A Oldcorn 71 70, S Gray 72 69.

142 G Hutcheon 72 70.

143 E Davie 69 74, R Arnott 72 71, C Gillies 71 72, E Little 70 73, G Dingwall 71 72, E Cameron 71 72.

144 G McBain 71 73, E Thomson 76 68, M Barnard 71 73, P McKechnie 73 71,M Hillson (am) 72 72, K Hutton 72 72.

+Players with 36-hole totals of 149 or better qualified for the final two rounds.