Tournament is far from over, the leader is told McKay is still switched on in Northern Open

McKay, who finished the day four strokes clear of Graham Spring, had spent the afternoon in bed as the rest of the field tried to catch him. ''I'm relaxed about the whole thing and I won't lose sleep worrying about leading the field,'' said Donald, who was back in the clubhouse shortly after noon.

The 29-year-old repeated his opening course-record 66 in the second round for a 36-hole total of eight-under-par 132. It will probably not disturb the laid-back McKay but Webster, nine shots behind him on 141, thinks that Donald is not past the winning post yet.

''McKay only needs to shoot something like a 74 in the third round and there could be a big swing in fortunes. Look at me, I equalled Donald's course record of 66 even finishing with a double-bogey 6,'' said Webster.

In still windy but slightly more favourable conditions at the Royal Aberdeen course, McKay did not have a single bogey in halves of 35 and 31. ''I played a lot better for this 66 than I did for the first one,'' said McKay.

''My driving is holding up. I'm hitting a lot of fairways, and you can't go far wrong when that happens. I thought the wind was softer today and the greens were a lot softer with the overnight rain. That made it easier to pitch the ball close on the back nine.''

Colin Brooks moved into contention, albeit six shots behind McKay, for a third win in the tournament with a 68 for 138. ''At the age of 32, I suppose that technically I'm a better player than I was when I was winning tournaments some years ago. However, I don't have the super-confidence level of those days when I thought I could win everything I played in," said the Port Royal driving range pro.

Late in the day, Irishman Graham Spring birdied the last two holes for a 68 and 136, slashing McKay's lead from six to four strokes. Colin Mitchell has won the leading amateur award, the Bookless Cup, even though he still has two rounds to play.

Mitchell was the only one of the 15 starting amateurs to survive the halfway cut with a second-round 69 for 144.

LEADERBOARD

132 - D McKay (Wellsgreen) 66, 66. 136 G Spring (Woodstock) 68, 68. 138 - C Brooks (Port Royal) 70, 68. 139 - E Little (Portpatrick) 70, 69; L James (East Dorset) 69, 70. 140 - J Chillas (Glenbervie) 70, 70; J Stevenson (Braehead) 73, 67; M Gray (Ladybank) 71, 69; G Houston (Carden Park) 73, 67; P Smith (Newmachar) 73, 67. 141 - G Collinson (Windyhill) 73, 68; S Hurd (Horsforth) 73, 68; A Webster (Edzell) 75, 66; S Downton (Orsett) 73, 68; C Hislop (Eden) 70, 71; D Downie (Brunston Castle) 73, 68; P Lawrie (MMI) 70, 71. 142 - A Barnett (Royal St David's) 73, 69; J Hepworth (unatt) 73, 69; M Sheppard (Conwy) 73, 69; M King (Deer Park) 71, 71; M Urquhart (Inverness) 75, 67; N Turley (Kidderminster) 67, 75; C Kelly (Turnberry Hotel) 68, 74; J Metcalfe (Boldon) 73, 69; J Livesley (Moor Park) 74, 68. 143 - A Tait (Clober) 72, 71; N Walton (Knotty Hill) 67, 76; M Hastie (Turnberry Hotel) 71, 72;

C Challen (Stoke Poges) 74, 69; D Lucas (Worksop) 72, 71.

144 - C Mitchell (am) (Blairgwrie) 75, 69; J Wright (Harpenden Common) 71, 73; R Tinworth (Hever) 73, 71; S Thompson (Gleddoch) 76, 68; F Mann (Musselburgh) 74, 70; I Ellis (Royal Norwich) 74, 70; P Dwyer (Stoneham) 71, 73; S Khan (Toot Hill) 76, 68; G Weir (King's Links) 77, 67; D Prosser (Three Hammers) 76, 68. 145 - G Forrester (Balbirnie Park) 70, 75; S Pullan (Cookridge Hall) 75, 70; N Ludwell (Selby) 72, 73; S McAllister (Charing Cross Tower Hotel) 73, 72; K Stables (Montrose) 73, 72; B Davidson (King's Links) 74, 71; D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 74 ,71; S Martin (North Engineering) 75, 70; S Callan (Dalmahoy) 76, 69; A Marshall (ALMA Consulting) 74, 71; C Gillies (West Lothian) 73, 72; S MacPherson (Felixstowe Ferry) 79, 66; R Hurd (Manor of Groves) 75, 70.

Non-qualifiers included: 146 - E Gordon (Forres) 75, 71; A McCloskey (Bothwell Castle) 73, 73; K Hutton (Downfield) 74, 72; S Stephen (Braid Hills) 75, 71; C Campbell (Grantown-on-Spey) 74, 72; E McIntosh (unatt) 75, 71; N Scott-Smith (Dullatur) 73, 73; G Law (Uphall) 74, 72. 147 - C Campbell (Loch Lomond) 75, 72; R Weir (Cowal) 74, 73; C Maltman (Eyemouth) 74, 73; D Nicoll (Balbirnie Park) 75, 72; R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 75, 72; L Vannet (Carnoustie) 74, 73; C Ronald (Torrance House) 75, 72.