Wales' Bradley Dredge, 21 under par in winning his second European Tour title last month, threatened a repeat performance in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship today.

One behind overnight leader Paul Casey despite setting a new course record at St Andrews yesterday, Dredge carried on where he left off in his second round this morning.

Starting from the 10th at Carnoustie - venue for next year's Open Championship - Dredge opened with two birdies and added another at the 14th to go to the turn in 32.

Dredge, who will defend the World Cup title he won with Stephen Dodd last year in Barbados in December, then picked up further shots at the second and fifth to move into the outright lead.

At 13 under par, Dredge was one ahead of Sweden's Johan Edfors and three clear of Casey, who were both playing at St Andrews.

Edfors went to the turn in 33 and then birdied the 11th, while Casey had started in style with two birdies but dropped shots at the fourth and eighth to lie 10 under.

Casey is currently £80,000 ahead of David Howell and £250,000 clear of Robert Karlsson at the top of the Order of Merit, and could win it this week if results go his way.

However, the vast amounts of prize money on offer here and in the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama means Karlsson (third), Henrik Stenson (fourth), Padraig Harrington (fifth) and Colin Montgomerie (seventh) are among those still in with a chance of topping the standings.

Harrington was the best placed of those after an opening 66 while Karlsson and Stenson both returned rounds of 68.

Montgomerie, seeking a ninth Order of Merit title, could only manage a 73 while Howell slumped to a 75 as he struggled with a shoulder injury.

Harrington was seven under after nine holes while Karlsson was on the same mark after 13.

Stenson was two shots behind after a bogey on the 13th at St Andrews while Montgomerie had recovered from three-putting the first with three birdies in four holes to improve to one under.

Howell remained three over after 11 holes and looked likely to miss the cut, which this week falls after three rounds.

The pro-am event sees each of the 168 professionals teamed up with an amateur partner.

The teams play one round at each of the courses over the first three days before the top 60 professionals and those tied for 60th place, together with the top 20 teams, compete in Sunday's final round at St Andrews.  PA