In tough conditions on Friday, Justin Harding held on for a four-over-par 74 in the second round of the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick to reach halfway in a share of 13th place.
Harding made three birdies, five bogeys and a double-bogey, and, while he slid 10 places on the leaderboard, it took some very special rounds to dip under par at all on the day, and, at one-under for the tournament, he’s just six shots off the lead through 36 holes.
American Cameron Tringale held on to the lead he took with his superb opening round of 61, carding a two-over 72 in the second round. His seven-under total is three clear of countrymen Gary Woodland and Doug Ghim.
Four players share fourth on three-under, including two form players who tamed the conditions. US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick scythed through the field with his four-under-par 66, and Olympic gold medallist Xander Schauffele had a six-under 64, and they joined Kurt Kitayama and Jordan Smith. Smith had an ace on 17 in his one-under 69.
One shot behind Harding were Joburg Open champion Thriston Lawrence and Dean Burmester. Lawrence had a one-over 71 and Burmester went two-over in the second round. They were in a share of 20th on level-par.
Branden Grace was a further shot back on one-over at halfway after he signed for a two-over 72. Christiaan Bezuidenhout had a solid level-par 70 to make the cut on the number at three-over in a share of 49th.
Brandon Stone, Daniel van Tonder and Erik van Rooyen missed the cut, together with the likes of world number one Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Will Zalatoris.
