North of Scotland Open amateur stroke-play championship

Darren Watson leads by six at Lossiemouth

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Cruden Bay's Darren Watson is halfway towards the biggest win of his golfing career, writes Colin Farquharson .
Little known on the national front, Watson has spreadeagled the field in this weekend's SGU 72-hole Order of Merit event: the North of Scotland Open amateur stroke play championship for the David Blair Trophy over the Moray Golf Club Old Course at Lossiemouth.
He is six shots clear of the field with Sunday's two rounds to come after shaving a stroke off the course record with a seven-under-par 64, followed by a 68 for 10-under 132, a staggering 14 under the combined CSS total (2x73)
Three men share second place on 138 - former Scottish amateur champion and reinstated professional Barry Hume (Haggs Castle) 68-70, Inverness youngster Rory Franssen (72-66) and Alan Sutherland (Cupar) (67-71).
Hume won his first SGU Order of Merit event only two weeks ago at the Leven Gold Medal in Fife where he prevailed in a play-off.
Moray member Kyle Godsman was beaten in a play-off for the David Blair Trophy 12 months ago and he won last weekend's 72-hole North-east District Open at Cruden Bay.
It's an intriguing set-up for the final 36 holes. The way Watson is playing he should win comfortably.
But if an experienced campaigner like Hume gets the scent of victory on the final day, anything might happen
TOP TEE TIMES ON SUNDAY
10.12am and 2.42pm: Sandy Scott and Ryan Campbell
10.21am and 2.51pm: Alan Sutherland and Barry Hume
10.30am and 3,00pm: Rory Franssen and Darren Watson 

  SECOND ROUND SCORES
Par 142 Old Course (2x71) CSS 73 73
132 D Watson (Cruden Bay) 64 68
138 A J Sutherland (Cupar) 67 71, B Hume (Haggs Castle) 68 70, R Franssen (Inverness) 72 66
139 G Munro (Frsserburgh) 69 70, J Wright (Forres) 70 69, S Scott (Nairn) 70 69, R Campbell (Falkirk) 74 65, A Carrick (Douglas Park) 70 69
140 K Godsman (Moray) 70 70
141 J Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) 66 75, J Savage (Cawder) 69 72,  R Gill (Tantallon) 69 72, S Roger (Cruden Bay) 72 69, J A Wilson (Balmore) 69 72
142 B R FotheringhaTm (Inverness) 70 72, C Syme (Drumoig) 70 72, L Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 74 68
143 T Beasley (Hunstanton) 70 73. H Tomlinson (Royal Lytham) 72 71, M Pennycott (Whiting Bay, Arran) 75 68, F Davren (Williamwood) 71 72
144 D Thorburn (Tain) 75 69
145 R A L Cameron (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) 73 72, C Maclean (Balmore) 72 73 
146 G Watt (Inverallochy) 77 69, S Walter (West Linton) 73 73
147 L Smart (Banchory) 72 75, J Shaw (Boat of Garten) 76 71, C Cochrane (Marriott Dalmahoy) 76 71
149 E J Forbes (Inverness) 71 78, A Cunningham (Old Ranfurly) 73 76, J Forbes (Muir of Ord) 74 75, C Stewart (Metropolitan) 75 74, C Franssen (Inverness) 76 73, A Hepburn (Fraserburgh) 77 72N Z Wood (Nigg Bay) 75 74
150 J Harling (Banchory) 79 72
151 M Watt (Inverallochy) 79 72, S Rendall (Orkney) 78 73
MISSED THE CUT 
(to leading 40 and ties)
152 J Sangster (Thurso) 72 80, D Joel (Inverness) 74 78 
153 C Chalmers (Cawder) 78 75, L Michel (Metropolitan) 83 70
154 G Murray (Moray) 77 77, B Henderson (Deeside) 78 76, M Schinkel (Orkney) 80 74, N Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 81 73
155 S Green (Meldrum House) 76 79, M L Macleman (Moray) 78 77, A Moir (Elgin) 81 74, D Hexley (Golspie) 76 79, C Lamb (Newmachar) 77 78
156 R J Smith (Marriott Dalmahoy) 76 80, J Keith (Inverness) 75 81, S Jamieson (Nigg Bay) 78 78
157 J Pryde (Deeside) 80 77
160 P Sangster (Thurso) 78 82, C Stewart (Murcar Links) 80 80, K Willox (Deeside) 86 74
162 J Mackintosh (Nairn) 83 79
163 C Grant (Portlethen) 83 80 
173 E Barras (Loch Ness) 84 89