Syme leads by two from McIntosh 

at Battle Trophy halfway stage


By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Drumoig's Connor Syme, one of three joint leaders on one-under-par 71 in the first round, took up the pole position on his own with a second-round, two-under-par 70 - the joint lowest score so far in the 72-hole Battle Trophy over Crail Golfing Society's Craighead Links. 
Early finisher Syme set the halfway clubhouse target in this weekend's SGU Order of Merit event with a three-under-par tally of 141 and  at one stage led by four shots from Walker Cup player and past Scottish amateur champion Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) 73-72 for 145.
Forrest was demoted to third place late in the day when Euan McIntosh (Dubai) started with an eagle 3 and added birdies at the seventh, eighth and 16th on his way to a 70 for 143 - only two shots behind Syme.
Syme and McIntosh were the only players to be under par at halfway.
Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie), winner of last weekend's Craigmillar Park Open play-off,  did not look to be on course for a double whammy. He has had scores of 79 and 72 for 151, 10 shots off the pace. 
Gordon Munro (Fraserburgh) and Fraser Davren (Williamwood), joint leaders with Syme after the first round, could not maintain the pressure. Munro had a 75 for 146 while Davren sagged to a 77 for 148. 
The halfway cut to the leading 40 and ties fell at 155, those players with 36-hole tallies of 156 failing to make it to Sunday's third and fourth rounds. 

DAVID ROY WRITES:

Connor Syme (Drumoig) continued to show good form with his second round score of 70 that included birdies at 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 12 and 15. He dropped shots on 5, 16 and 17 and endured a double on the 9^th, a hole proving to be difficult, despite measuring only 375 yards. 

Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) birdied 1, 6, 10, 16 and eagled the 8^th but bogeyed 4, 13, 17 and finished with a double on 18. 

James Wilson (Balmore) improved on his morning round by six strokes, helped by eagles on 1 and 13, and birdies on 6, 10, 16. His only dropped shots came at 9 and 18. 

Sandy Scott (Nairn) bettered his morning round by eight shots, which included a flawless front nine, with birdies at 1 and 3, and no dropped shots. His birdies continued on 10 and 16 before he faded with bogeys at 17 and 18. 

Gordon Munro (Fraserburgh) was out in level par and remained so until a triple bogey at the last hole undid much of his hard work to finish with 75. 

Last in was Euan McIntosh (Els Club, Dubai), who got off to a flyer with an eagle at the first, and birdied 7,  8 and 16, dropping shots at 3, 6 and 17 to card a splendid 70, leaving him just two behind the leader.

SECOND-ROUND SCORES
Par 144 (2x72) CSS 77 (r/o) and 77
141 C Syme (Drumoig) 71 70.
143 E McIntosh (Dubai) 73 72
145 G Forrest (Craigielaw) 73 72
146 J A Wilson (Balmore) 76 70, G Munro (Fraserburgh) 71 75
147 R Franssen (Inverness) 73 74 
148 S Scott (Nairn) 78 70, R Brydon (Bruntsfield Links) 75 73, J Bunch (Prestwick) 73 75, F Davren (Williamwood) 71 77.
149 S Stewart (Clydebank and Dist) 78 71, C Handy (South Moor) 78 71, J Harling (Banchory) 72 77, L Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 77 72
150 W Porter (Carnoustie) 76 74, G Greer (Carluke) 79 71
151 G Robertson (Glenbervie) 79 72, J Stewart (Old Ranfurly) 78 73, D Morrison (Duff House Royal) 75 76, C Fyfe (Cawder) 75 76, S Roger (Cruden Bay) 75 76, M Watt (Inverallochy) 77 74.
152 B McLeod (Musselburgh) 78 74, M Napier (Turnhouse) 77 75, C MacLean (Balmore) 75 77, J Savage (Cawder) 75 77, J Shaw (Boat of Garten) 72 80.
153 K Godsman (Moray) 78 75, K McClung (Wigtownshire) 76 77, C Pirie (Millport) 79 75, G Burns (Williamwood) 80 73, E Wood (Crow Wood) 78 75
154 B Kinsley (St Andrews) 82 72, A J Sutherland (Cupar) 79 75, J Wright (Forres) 77 77, J J Lockie (Tantallon) 79 75.
155 M Gray (North Berwick) 80 75, C Brechin (Portlethen) 79 76, C Bruce (Duff House Royal) 78 77, C Deerness (Harburn) 77 78, J Douglas (Leven Th) 77 78, D Lawrence (Ballumbie Castle) 72 83. C Low (Tantallon) 76 79.

MISSED THE CUT TO LEADING 40 AND TIES

156 K Cantley (Liberton) 81 75, S Gibson (Southerness) 79 77 D Mitchell jun (Leven Th) 79 77, F Carr (Crail GS) 78 78, P Gault (Haggs Castle) 76 80.
157 N McMullen (Lundin) 81 76, J Forgan (Stowmarket) 75 82
158 M Herd (Crail GS) 81 77
159 R Wardlaw (Carnoustie Caledonia) 80 79, M Pennycott (Royal Burgess) 80 79
161 A Collier (Duke's) 81 80, C Lamb (Newmachar) 86 75, G Ingram (Hazlehead) 80 81.
162 A Sinclair (Haggs Castle) 82 80, J Mathers (Haggs Castle) 82 80, C Curran (Harburn) 81 81, S Walter (West Linton) 81 81
164 G Wishart (Lundin) 81 83
165 C Cochrane (Marriott Dalmahoy) 84 81
167 S McGarvey (Glencorse) 84 83
171 L Bain (Musselburgh) 82 89, I Rogers (Dunblane New) 89 82.

Withdrew: N Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 84, C Neil (Blairgowrie) 85.
No Return Round 1: D Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen)
 

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