Richie Ramsay hopes to surge into the mix for a Sunday tilt at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open title.
The Aberdonian is seven under for the championship after following up an opening 65 with a 70 at The Renaissance Club.
The three-time European Tour winner wants a low round today to give him a chance of scooping one of three spots available for next week’s Open at Royal Portrush and even a shot at Scottish Open glory.
He said: “I want a good round to be in the mix on Sunday, when it all starts on the back nine.
“So, for the next 27 holes, I need to be aggressive, make some putts and go for it. If I get into contention on that back nine on Sunday then the sky is the limit. You need to aim high.
“It would be good to have, not just maybe me but at least one Scottish guy up there because that’s what the home crowds want to see.
“It’s a star-studded field with great players so you’ve got to respect that but the Scottish guys are more than capable of making a charge.”
Despite another day of low shooting, Ramsay, a member of this week’s host club, was surprised by Bernd Wiesberger’s course record of 61. He said: “It wasn’t overly easy. I know Bernd shot 61 but that’s an unbelievable score. By no means is it a walkover. I’d like to see more wind to dry the course out a bit.
“The way the course is set up has played into the hands of guys who are – I wouldn’t say one-dimensional – but more the foreign players who don’t often play on links turf and flight it a bit higher.
“I’m quite surprised how calm it has been because I don’t come down here two days in a row and it’s like this.
“So we’ll just have to hope for a little bit more wind. Then if you get out early and shoot six or seven under with wind, you can really vault up the leaderboard.
“Six under with no wind you don’t see the massive jump, so it would be nice if it got windy.”