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Craig Lee leads by one from Mark

Kerr with 36-hole slog to come

FROM THE SCOTSMAN.SPORT.COM WEBSITE
By NICK RODGER
(with additional words by Colin Farquharson)

Mark Kerr shrugged off the effects of a heavy cold to keep himself in the hunt for the biggest win of his fledgling professional career in the Northern Open at Spey Valley, Aviemore.

The 27-year-old from Edinburgh, who joined the pro ranks two seasons ago, posted a hard-earned one-under 71 for a three-under 141 to sit a shot behind halfway pacesetter Craig Lee (pictured), who compiled a six-birdie 68 (35-33) for four-under-par 140.

The destination of the title, first contested in 1933 and one of the oldest in Scottish professional golf, will be decided with a punishing 36-holes on Thursday but under- the-weather Kerr admitted it is a daunting prospect over the gruelling Dave Thomas-designed, 7118yd course.

"It's going to be survival of the fittest," said Kerr."I'm not looking forward to two rounds feeling like this on a course as long as this one. I was hanging on today and it was a bit of a struggle so I'm delighted to still be in contention at this stage."

Kerr has been a winner over four rounds in the North/North-east as an amateur. Playing out of Dalmahoy, he claimed the North-east District Open of 2005 at Deeside Golf Club.

Front-runner Lee, 32, made a significant move with a neatly assembled round highlighted by a birdie-putt from 30-feet at the 10th which provided the catalyst for a three-under inward half. Bury's Sean Doherty, looking to become the first Englishman since Jim Payne in 2000 to land the crown, had a 72 to lurk on the 142 mark while Gordon Sherry's golfing comeback was handed a boost when he survived the cut on a 151 after a battling 73.

The 6ft 8in Ayrshire man did well to maintain his concentration and his determination after incurring a two-strong penalty for playing the wrong ball after a visit to the heather at the ninth.
In all 42 players with two-round totals of eight-over-par 152 or better qualified for the last day's play.

No amateurs survived the cut so the Bookless Cup will not be won this year. With no sponsorship this year, the first prize for the professionals has had to be cut from £8,000 to £2,500.

71st NORTHERN OPEN HALFWAY SCOREBOARD

SECOND ROUND
Par 144 (2x72:36-36) 7118yd
140 Craig Lee (unatt) 72 68 (35-33) pictured right.
141 Mark Kerr (unatt) 70 71 (35-36).
142 Sean Doherty (Bury) 70 72 (35-37)
143 Stephen Gray (Hayston) 72 71 (36-35)
144 Martyn Hamer (Ellesmere) 74 70 (32-38), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 71 73 (35-38).
145 Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon) 73 72 (35-37).
146 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 72 74 (39-34), Edward Thomson (Senit Associates) 70 76 (37-39), David Orr (East Renfrewshire) 71 75 (36-39), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs G R) 74 72 (36-36), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 76 70 (34-36).
147 Craig Ronald (Carluke) 74 73 (37-36), Mark Barnard (Inchmarlo) 73 74 (39-35), Colin Gillies (Perry Golf 77 70 (35-35).
148 Fraser Mann (Musselburgh) 76 72 (34-38), Mark King (Kingsfield) 77 71 (34-37), Stuart Pardoe (Scottish Golf Centre) 73 75 (38-37).
149 Jonathan Lomas (unatt) 78 71 (35-36), Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie) 79 70 (34-36), Steven Parry (unatt) 75 74 (39-35), Paul Wardell (Whitekirk) 78 71 (36-35).
150 James McKinnon (Irvine) 73 77, Ken Campbell (Machrihanish), Callum Nicoll (Prestwick) 78 72, Jonas Hedberg (Royal Aberdeen) 76 74, Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 79 71 (36-35), Christopher Manson (unatt) 78 72.
151 Steven Brown (Carnoustie GL) 74 77 (39-38), Kenneth Hutton (Downfield) 76 75 (37-38), Samuel Cairns (Colville Park) 76 75, Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation) 80 71 (33-38), David Patrick (Elie) 76 75, Gordon Sherry (Kilmarnock Barassie) 78 73 (37-36), Graham Fox (East Kilbride) 75 76, Gordon Law (Uphall) 75 76, Alastair Mackenzie (Duddingston) 83-68 (33-35).
152 Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 78 74, James McGhee (Turnhouse) 73 79, Ian Graham (Crow Wood) 75 77, Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) 75 77.
MISSED THE CUT
153 Richard Pace (Hornsea) 74 79, Gareth Wright (West Linton) 76 77, Stuart Morrison (Tain) 77 76.
154 Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 80 74, Andrew Cooper (Newmachar) 77 77, Chris Kelly (Cawder) 75 79, Michael Rae (Alyth) 80 74, Henry Wong (Wellsgreen) 78 76, Joe Senior (Heysham) 81 73, Stewart Savage (Dalmuir) 77, Iain Hanna (Strathclyde Park) 77 77, Peter Mitchell (Hermitage) 82 72, Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle) 80 74, James Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey) 81 73.
155 Gary McFarlane (Clober) 80 75, Jamie Stevenson (Braehead) 79 76, Fraser McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle) 85 70, Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy) 76 79, David Green (Dukinfield) 77 78.
156 Alan Reid (unatt) 83 73, Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh) 75 81, David Smith (Swinton Park) 81 75, Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design) 81 75, Stuart Reekie (Blairgowrie) 81 75, Andrew Fullen (Largs) 77 79, Kevin Phillips (Winterfield) 82 74, Craig Everett (Caldwell) 82 74, Mark Loftus (Cowglen) 82 74.
157 Murray Urquhart (Spey Valley) 80 77, Iain Donaldson (Meldrum House) 80 77, Scott Catlin (Greenburn) 79 78, Alan E Reid (West Lothian) 80 77, Aran Wainwright (De Vere Oulton Hall) 79 78, Greg Paxton (Ralston) 81 76, Alex Belt (unatt) 79 78, Graeme McInnes (Murcar Links) 83 74, Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) 79 78, Kris Andrews (Ashton on Mersey) 79 78, Neil Howitt (Nairn) (am) 79 78, Gary Dingwall (Royal Dornoch) 82 75.
158 Stuart McKendrick (Dunkeld & Birnam) (am) 77 81, Paul Brookes (Pitreavie) 79 79, David Gemmell (Aberdour) 77 81, Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park) 78 70, Paul Malone (Braid Hills) 78 80, Don Garrett (Huntly) 79 79, Michael Sweenie (Westin Turnberry) 80 78.
159 Chris Campbell (Grantown on Spey) 80 79, Andrew Campbell (Deeside) (am) 83 76, Lee Vannet (Carnoustie GL) 83 76, Graham Murray (Cullen) (am) 82 77, Richard Hyland (Craibstone) 84 75, Ewan Hogarth (Peebles) 81 78, Stewart Pert (Huntly) (am) 81 78.
160 Gavin Cook (Prestonfield) 80 80, Anthony Mackrell (East Kilbride) 80 80, Craig Donnelly (Balbirnie Park) 78 82..
161 Stewart McCulloch (McDonald Ellon) (am) 80 81, Robbie Stewart (Cruden Bay) 83 78.
162 Chris McCalman (unatt) 80 82, Nigel Scott-Smith (Palacerigg) 82 80, Nick Robson (Meldrum House) (am) 85 77, Hamish Kemp (Bishopbriggs GR) 87 75, Calum Smith (Royal Musselburgh) 83 79, Alan Purdie (Kingsbarns) 80 82, Ross MacDonald (Jura) 82 80.
163 Mark Hancock (Stand) 82 81, Greig McSporran (Kinross) 80 83, George Boswell (Mearns Castle) 80 83.
164 Alan Gowran (East Renfrewshire) 85 79, Ewan Davie (Dunblane New) 85 79, Jonny Sharp (Carrick at Cameron House) 85 79.
165 David Fleming (Prestwick) 84 81.
166 David MacMullen (Aberdour) 90 76, Graham Mackay (Prestonfield) 86 80, James Smallwood (Fereneze) 85 81.
167 Craig MacDonald (Peterculter) 85 82, Peter McLachlan (West Kilbride) 89 78.
169 Norman Huguet (Musselburgh) 84 85, Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) 90 79.
170 Stuart Wilson (Eastwood) 83 87.
172 Grant Robertson (Lanark) 87 85, Ian Rowlands (West Linton) 87 85, Gary Cooke (Liberton) 87 85.
173 Lee McDonald (Nairn Dunbar) (am) 87 86.
175 Paul Wilson (World of Golf) 96 79, James Mooney (unatt) 88 87, Nick Reid (unatt) 90 85.
Disqualified: Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe) 73 DQ.
Retired: Stephen McNally (Scottish Inst of Sport) 78 ret.

THIRD ROUND TEE TIMES
7.0 A Lockhart & I Graham.
7.08 J McGhee & S Taylor.
7.16 A MacKenzie & G Law.
7.24 G Fox & G Sherry.
7.32 D Patrick & S Cairns.
7.40 G Lornie & K Hutton.
7.48 S Brown & C Hanson.
7.56 J Hedberg & S Henderson.
8.04 C Nicoll & K Campbell.
8.12 J McKinnon & S Parry.
8.20 P Wardell & L Mann.
8.28 J Lomas & S Pardoe.
8.36 S Duncan & M King.
8.44 F Mann & C Gillies.
8.52 M Barnard & C Ronald.
9.0 N Fenwick & R Arnott.
9.08 D Orr & E Thomson.
9.16 P McKechnie & R Cameron.
9.24 C Matheson & M Hamer.
9.32 S Gray & S Doherty.
9.40 M Kerr & C Lee.

+Tee times for fourth and final round will depend on the pace of play in the morning third round.