Gary Evans leads the way at the halfway stage of the weather disrupted Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles today.
The Englishman, in search of his first win for 10 years on the European Tour, shot a five-under par 67 to add to his opening 66 which gave him a halfway 11-under par 133 total.
The 32-year-old was one of 66 players who had to return to the PGA Centenary course at 7.30a.m. this morning to finish their first rounds after almost four hours were lost to persistent early morning fog yesterday.
He picked up two birdies in his remaining four holes to get within one shot of his playing partner Mark Mouland of Wales who headed the field after his 65.
After only a one hour break, the former English champion and double Lytham Trophy winner - 1990 and 1991 - started again on the 10th and picked up birdies at the 11th and 12th to overhaul Mouland. He went on to birdie the 16th to be out in 33 and two more birdies on the way home left Evans in pole position.
Mouland finished in style with an eagle at the ninth, his last, giving him a second round 70 to make sure he kept in touch on nine-under par.
Meanwhile, Australian Peter Fowler sandwiched his way in between the pair, to command second place on his own. Fowler shot 68 for a 10-under par 134 total going into the weekend.
David Higgins is only five shots adrift after adding today’s one-under par 71 to his opening 67. The Waterville professional had a mixed bag with four birdies and three bogeys on his card.
Meanwhile Gary Murphy, who is in much need of a cash boost to lift his lowly position of 235th on the money list, got off to an even start with four pars from the 10th, his first. The Kilkenny man remained on four-under after his opening 68.
Veterans Des Smyth and Eamonn Darcy should make it safely into the weekend as both finished on two-under par 142. Darcy made the most progress with a three-under 69, while Smyth, the Madeira Island Open winner, carded a second successive 71 over the Perthshire parkland.