SCOTTISH OPEN STROKEPLAY - Chris Harkins leads Scottish challenge at Glasgow Gailes

Chris Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) - pictured right - leads the Scottish challenge at the halfway stage of the 2010 Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship, being held fron 28 - 30 May at Glasgow Gailes.

Fresh from his success in winning the Hillhouse Cup at Royal Troon last weekend, Harkins followed his level par round of 71 on Friday with a three under par round of 68 on Saturday for a 139 total and a share of third place.

With two rounds to go on Sunday, Harkins is just four shots adrift of the leader, frenchman Romaine Wattel on 135 (68 - 67).

With the cut falling at 145 (+3), Steven McEwan (Caprington), on 144 (75 - 69), was the only other Ayrshire player to make the cut, with Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) and Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) both missing out by a single shot on 146, after rounds of 75 & 71.

LEADING SCORES

135 - Romain Wattel (France) 68 67
137 - Billy Hemstock (Teignmouth) 67 70
139 - Jack Senior (Heysham) 71 68, Chris Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) 71 68, Richard Smith (Notts) 69 70, Chris Lloyd (Kendleshire) 66 73
140 - Ian Winstanley (Formby) 70 70, Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle) 70 70

Ayrshire players who missed the cut :-

146 - Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 75 71, Paul Moultrie (Royal Troon) 75 71
147 - George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) 74 73, Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 73 74 149 - Stephen Spence (Irvine) 77 72
154 - Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) 79 75
160 - Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) 81 79
163 - Jamie Mackay (Kilmarnock (Barassie) 81 82
Disq - Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle) 71 DQ