American Chris Gotterup equalled the course record at the Renaissance Club with a stunning nine-under-par 61 to take the halfway lead at the Scottish Open on Friday, as Rory McIlroy surged into contention.
Gotterup’s career-best round moved him to 11-under 129 for the tournament, two shots clear of England’s Harry Hall after 36 holes in North Berwick.
Ranked 158th in the world, Gotterup rolled in nine birdies in benign conditions on Scotland’s east coast to eclipse a host of pre-Open Championship favourites.
“I’ll take a nine under any day,” Gotterup said. “Relatively stress-free for the most part and that’s always good around here.”
McIlroy, tuning up for next week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush, made an electric start by going five under through seven holes. He eventually signed for a five-under 65 to reach seven-under 133 and sit firmly in the mix heading into the weekend.
“Got off to a flyer. The conditions were so benign this morning, hardly any wind, then the wind started to pick up a little bit but still very manageable,” said McIlroy. “Overall a really good score and puts me in the thick of things going into the weekend.”
Open champion Xander Schauffele carded a second-round 66 to move to six-under 134, while Matt Fitzpatrick, looking to strengthen his Ryder Cup credentials, fired a superb seven-under 63 to climb to eight-under 132.
Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, has endured a frustrating season that has seen him slip to 77th in the world rankings, but looked more like his old self as he surged into contention.
South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout is in a tie for 46th on two-under 138 after rounds of 69 and 69.
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Photo:Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Article Link: Gotterup fires course record to lead Scottish Open