Spring Invitational Round 2

Ryan Halliday scorched the front nine of The Old Course this afternoon with four birdies before succumbing to the formidable 17th. He is not the first and won't be the last. A costly double checked his progress but a superb score of 40 points gives him a one shot lead at the halfway point.

Young debutant Jacob Farnworth improved on yesterday's score by 12 points to lift the daily title, while Jeff Spangler recovered from a shaky start to match Halliday's four birdie haul and claim a share of 3rd spot.

The scratch event is beginning to take shape after some strong performances by the low handicappers. Plus-golfer Logan Woolley showed his class with a three under par round of 69, highlighted by an eagle two at the par 4 9th. His only blip of the day came on the 10th - one of the holes that has been modified over the winter months - now with a magnetic bunker just left of the landing area off the tee. The laid back Woolley was happy with his day's work and shared afterwards, "Putting is normally the strength of my game and I felt confident on the greens, but today was a good ball-striking day and it's pleasing to post a score".

Glenn Collins, a former PGA pro, is back enjoying the game after a long hiatus in the middle of his career. His classical swing and vintage Tad Moore putter are indicators of his successes in times past. It's very pleasing on the eye to see a player navigate the Old with a slow tempo and soft draw. Collins traded a birdie with four bogeys for a 75, equating to 33 scratch points. That keeps him well in the mix heading into the third round at Carnoustie. 

A quick thank you to Darrius at Little Italy for ensuring all Spring Invitational competitors were afforded a dinner reservation throughout the week. This iconic restaurant on Logie's Lane continues to be the hottest ticket in town. Generational cooking, heartfelt service and a deep wine list.