SSP Chawrasia in 18th place as Otaegui and Wallace share the lead

Chawrasia shot a second straight 69, moving to 6-under through 36 holes. Adrian Otaegui and Matt Wallace are in the lead at 12-under

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SSP Chawrasia - Getty Images

The man from Kolkata is returning to golf after nearly seven months and a battle against coronavirus. But SSP Chawrasia is showing no signs of strain. He shot a second 69 helping himself to a halfway total of 6-under 138. Shubhankar Sharma shot an even 72 to squeeze inside the weekend, right on the number at 1-under 143. Gaganjeet Bhullar shot the best round since his return to action last week, but despite making a 71 he could not save himself from the cut.

Overnight leader Adrian Otaegui was joined by Matt Wallace at the halfway stage of the Scottish Championship, the two atop the leaderboard at 12-under. Wallace made the most of benign conditions to fire himself into a share of the lead with a 67. Playing in the afternoon, Otaegui found himself repeatedly challenged before steadying his boat on the second nine for a battling 70, just enough to retain a share of the lead. Otaegui started his day on the 10th hole, making three bogeys and five birdies.

“I’m feeling good, I’m feeling happy about the round. I had to work hard at the beginning to save some pars, which I did OK.

“And then I played much better on the back nine so it’s been OK, it’s been a good day.

“I’m pleased because of the way I’ve been playing in the last two days, the way I’ve felt on the greens as well, even if today I didn’t hole as many putts as yesterday.

“Even when I struggled, the few shots I missed, I still fought to save par or try to save. There’s still a lot of golf to play from now to the end of the week so let’s go and enjoy.

“My favourite way of golf is stroke play so I definitely want to win that way as well,” said Otaegui, whose two victories so far have come in match play events.

Chawrasia recovered from a shaky start to remain firmly in control of his fate. Despite conceding two bogeys in the first three holes, the Indian recovered quickly with birdies at the fourth and seventh holes. He finished with a nice flourish, picking up three birdies in five holes for a well made 69.

Shubhankar played a quiet, yet steady round of golf. A birdie at the sixth hole was negated by a bogey at the 13th hole as he came home to an even 72 on Friday. Bhullar was staring down the barrel, but played with ambition. But even though he made four birdies in a battling 71, it wasn’t enough to address an opening round 75 and he slipped out of the weekend.