Alfred Dunhill Links Championship second round standings
-14 N Colsaerts (Bel), C John (Aus); -13 D Law (Sco) D Fichardt (SA); -12 D Hillier (NZ), J Dantorp (Sweden), R Williams (SA), J Luiten (Ned)
Others selected: -11 T Fleetwood (Engr.), T Hatton (Engr.); -9 B Koepka (United States); -8 J Rahm; -7 M Wallace (England), P Harrington (Ireland); -6 R McIlroy (Nir)
Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Australian Cameron John share a one-stroke lead at the halfway point of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Colsaerts, 41, shot a seven-under 65 at Carnoustie to top the leaderboard on 14 under, alongside John, who shot 68 at St Andrews.
Former Ryder Cup player Colsaerts entered the tournament ranked 695th in the world, while John, playing only his seventh DP World Tour event, is down to 1,007th.
“At the stage I’m at, the way I view this business and my career, I’m just happy to be here,” said Colsaerts, whose round included eight birdies and just one bogey.
John, 23, said: “It’s just fun. You don’t often get it (related courses) at home, maybe a weird course that plays the same way but nothing quite The same.
“Coming up on the 18th at St Andrews is always pretty special, so remember that.”
Scotsman David Law shot a 6-under 67 at St Andrews to move within a stroke of the lead alongside South African leader Darren Fichardt, who followed his first-round 61 at Kingsbarns with a 70 on the Old Course.
English pair Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton are part of a tie for ninth on 11 under, with Spaniard Jon Rahm three shots further back.
Rory McIlroy carded a second consecutive 69 to move down the leaderboard and, eight shots behind the leaders, the Northern Irishman will need a weak round at St Andrews on Saturday to get back into contention.
American Brooks Koepka shot a fine 64 to bring him to nine under.
