ROSS BELL LEADS RAIN-HIT LEVEN GOLD MEDAL BY SIX AT HALFWAY

 ROSS BELL ... big lead with two rounds to go in Standard Life Leven Gold Medal (pictured in Leven GS clubhouse after his second-round 69)


By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Downfield's Ross Bell added a 69 to a sparkling 64 for a 36-hole total of nine-under-par 133 to lead by six shots the qualifiers for Sunday's final two rounds in the Standard Life Leven Gold Medal.
The second round was played in nonstop rain but the course stood up well and the scoring was surprisingly good.
A total of 41 players with two-round tallies of 149 or better will return for the final day when the weather is forecast to be even worse!
Bell, a winner over the Levin links in last year's Champion of Champions, will be celebrating his 23rd birthday as he plays the final two rounds.
His nearest challenger is Peter Latimer (St Andrews New), winner of the East of Scotland Open last year but dropped from the Scotland team for this year's Home Internationals. Latimer had rounds of 67 and 72 - against the Par of 71 - for 139.
Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) starts the third round in third place on 140 with rounds of 71 and 69.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71) CSS 72 73
133 Ross Bell (Downfield) 64 69
139 Peter Latimer (St Andrews New) 67 72
140 Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 71 69.
141 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 70 71, Alex Main (Thornton) 70 71.
142 Chris Lawton (Falkirk Tryst) 67 75, Scott Stewart-Cation (The Duke’s) 69 73, Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 71 71.
143 James Ross (Royal Burgess) 73 70, Keith Shanks (Briar Ridge) 68 75, Adam Dunton (McDonald) 68 75, Myles Cunningham (Longniddry) 71 72,
144 Marc Gentles (St Andrews) 72 72, John Duff (Newmachar) 76 68, Stephen Speirs (Portpatrick Dunskey) 72 72, Daniel Kay (Dunbar) 70 74, Dan Lawrence (Ballumbie Castle) 69 75.
145 Paul McPhee (King James VI) 72 73, Paul Ferrier (Baberton) 71 74, Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) 71 74.
146 David Mitchell (Leven Thistle) 72 74, Liam McGowan (St Andrews New) 79 67, Darren Gould (Woodhall Spa) 69 77, Graeme McDougall (Bishopbriggs) 75 71, Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth) 73 73, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 73 73, Graham Robertson (Silverknowes) 71 75.
147 Ross Noon (Craigielaw) 71 76, Greg Nicolson (Mortonhall) 71 76, Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 70 77, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 75 72, Lee Morgan (Swanston) 73 74.
148 Craig Deerness (Harburn) 74 74.
149 Steven Rennie (Drumpellier) 71 78, John Laurie (Cowglen) 73 76, Alex Moir (Thornton) 78 71, Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) 75 74, Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe) 71 78, Brian Erskine (Merchants of Edinburgh) 72 77, Kris McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 75 74, Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) 75 74.
MISSED THE CUT
150 Alan Sutherland (Ladybank) 75 75, Michael Daily (Erskine) 72 78, Daniel Sommerville (St Andrews) 70 80.
151 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 73 78, Jordan McColl (Scotscraig) 73 78
153 David Oldham (Crail GS) 76 77, Ewan MacGregor (Leven GS) 79 74, Matthew Allen (The Kendleshire) 78 75, James Hendrick (Pollok) 75 78.
154 Alister Hain (Ladybank) 80 74, Greg Smail (Craigielaw) 72 82. Scott Ritchie (Coringa) 78 76, Alan Welsh (Cathkin Braes) 75 79.
155 Hugh Nelson (Kilsyth Lennox) 81 74, Kevin Blyth (Lundin) 77 78.
156 Jamie Stephen (Aberdour) 79 77, Steven Smith (Marriott Dalmahoy) 74 82
157 Brian Rocke (Twin Creeks) 81 76
158 Mark Dickson (Mortonhall) 78 80
159 David Docherty (Bonnyton) 83 76.
162 David Martin (Leven GS) 79 83
165 Grant Carnie (Newburgh on Ythan) 80 85.

Withdrew: Conor O’Neil (Pollok) 78 wd, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 71 wd, Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 80 wd.
No Returns: Ian Bell (Scotscraig) 80 NR, Alasdair MacLennan (Kings Acre) 74 NR, James Aitken (Alloa) 75 NR, Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) 75 NR.