New Zealander Steve Alker has claimed the clubhouse lead after moving to two under par with a second-round 69 at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
Trying to replicate fellow Kiwi Sir Bob Charles’ famous win at Lytham 49 years ago, Alker had three birdies on the back nine to post his second successive one-under round at the Lancashire links layout.
With his wife Tanya carrying his bag, Alker picked up shots on 13 and 15 before closing in style with a great birdie at the tough par-4 18th.
“I’ve got my family here this week, so we’re just keeping it relaxed,” Alker said.
“My wife is working for me. She’s on the bag this week. We’re just trying to have a little bit more fun this week.
“I made a couple of good putts. I hit good shots to where the pin was. There’s a lot of tough pins that are on slopes and the back of the green, so it was tough.
“I just played smart and holed a couple of good putts for birdies.”
Apart from that, Alker said his strategy around the pot-filled course was simple, really.
“Yesterday I kept my nose clean and I stayed out of all the bunkers,” he said.
“Today with the different wind early on a hit it in a couple of fairway bunkers, a little bit of rough.
“But over the last two days I think I’ve been in maybe two fairway bunkers. So that’s not too bad.”
When he signed off, Alker was four shots off the pace jointly being set by Australia’s first-round leader Adam Scott and American Brandt Snedker.