AVON MAN EVANS LEADS ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY AT HALFWAY

Two weeks ago Meghan MacLaren from Northamptonshire, daughter of European Tour director David MacLaren, led from start to finish to win the Irish women's open amateur stroke-play championship.
Now her Wellingborough clubmate Ryan Evans (26) is trying to do the same in the St Andrews Links Trophy where he leads at the halfway stage on 139 after a 66 over the Jubilee Course followed today by 73 over the Old Course.
Evans is not a full-time amateur, unlike most of the GB and I players chasing selection for the Walker Cup match in America in the autumn.
He is not really the male equivalent of the "Avon Lady," but we might loosely describe him as the "Avon Man" - he  works in the IT department of Avon Cosmetics.
Evans leads by a shot from compatriot Jordan Smith (Bowood) (71-69) and France's Gregoire Schoeb (71-69) on 140.
Scotland's No 1 challenger is now former US college circuit player James Ross from the Royal Burgess club, Edinburgh. Ross shot a 69, four better than his Jubilee effort, to be in joint sixth place with two rounds over the Old Course to come on Sunday. 
Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie), rated Scotland's best hope of a representative in the Walker Cup team, is joint eighth on 143 after rounds of 69 and 74. 
The cut fell at four-over-par 148 and Scottish boys champion Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) made it by the skin of his teet with a pair of 74s. Another past Under-18 national champion, Craig Howie (Peebles) also beat the cut with nothing to spare after ronds of 75 and 73. 
It was a case of sic transit gloria for Garrick Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) from the North-east of England. Recent winner of the Scottish open amateur stroke-play title at Southerness, he bowed out with rounds of 76 and 81 for 157 - nine over the limit. 
LEADING HALFWAY TOTALS
Par 144 (72 on Jubilee Course, 72 on Old Course; CSS 75-75)
139 Ryan Evans (Wellingborough) 66 73
140 Jordan Smith (Bowood) 71 69, Gregoire Schoeb (France) 71 69.
141 Thomas Detry (Belgium) 69 72, Simon Christensen (Denmark) 72 69.
142 James Ross (Royal Burgess) 73 69, Toby Tree (Worthing) 71 71.
143 Jordan Zunic (Australia) 72 73, Max Orrin (North Foreland) 73 70, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 69 74.
144 Nathan Kimsey (Woodhall Spa) 68 76, Paul Howard (Southport and Ainsdale) 71 73, Daniel Hendry (Emirates) 69 75, Zander Lombard (South Africa) 71 73, Axel Boasson (Icfeland) 72 72.

SELECTED QUALIFIERS
145 Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) 76 69, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 72 73, Ewan Scott (St Andrews) 72 73 (T16).
147 Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 71 76 (T30)
148 Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) 74 74, Craig Howie (Peebles) 75 73 (T35)

MISSED THE CUT (148 and better qualified)
149 James Bunch (Prestwick) 77 72, Scott Mann (Carnoustie) 78 71
150 Ross Bell (Downfield) 78 72, Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) 74 76, Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 76 74.
151 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 72 79, Neil Henderson (Renaissance) 72 79.
153 Jamie Savage (Cawder) 75 78, Brian Soutar (Leven GS) 71 82, Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) 78 75.
154 Greig Marchbank (Dumfries and Co) 76 78, Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 79 75.
155 James White (Lundin) 75 80, Chris Robb (Meldrum House) 79 767
157 Garrick Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) 76 81, Daniel Elder (Carnoustie) 79 78.
160 Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) 81 79.
162 Scott Stewart-Cation (The Duke's) 79 83
163 Ben Kinsley (St Andrews) 81 82.

WHEN TO SEE THE LEADERS ON SUNDAY
OLD COURSE
9.40 and 2.40 Graeme Robertson and James Ross
9.48 and 2.58 Toby Tree and Simon Christensen.
9.56 and 2.56 Thomas Detry and Jordan Smith.
10.04 and 3.04 Gregoire Schoeb and Ryan Evans.