Gareth Wright continued to stamp his authority on the Northern Open as extended his lead to five shots at the halfway stage of the Tartan Tour major at Nairn Dunbar.

The West Linton pro, a double Scottish PGA champion, added a four-under 68 to his opening 65 for an 11-under 133 to finish the day well clear of Gavin Hay and the defending champion, Paul O’Hara.

A brace of birdies at the first and second got Wright going in a round which featured just one spilled shot.

Hay mounted a late surge with a birdie on the 17th and an eagle on the last to vault up the order with a 67 while O’Hara, who won last year’s event by seven shots, moved through the gears after an opening 72 with a sprightly 67 of his own.

Alastair Forsyth, the two-time European Tour winner, sits in a share of fourth place on 141 along with the former Northern Open champion Scott Henderson.