Mike Gallagher is tied for the lead after shooting a second round 72 in the Senior PGA Professional Championship at Northamptonshire County Golf Club.
Local Gallagher, who lives just down the road in Northampton and represents Farthingstone carded a birdie at the third after hitting his approach shot to within a foot of the pin to move to two under par after a 69 yesterday.
However, back-to-back bogeys at the fifth and sixth sent him back to level for the tournament and when he hit a wild drive at the eighth he was lucky to escape with a bogey.
He three-putted on the difficult 16th green but made amends at the next to take a share of the lead into the final round.
"The course is superb," he said. "It's easier when it's damp to putt but I know the course well and you have got to hit the fairways.
"I only used my driver twice from the tee because you need to keep it down the middle."
Last year's winner Donald Stirling, based in Austria, is also one over par after a two-over-par 72.
"I went about it the same as yesterday," he said. "The greens caught me out a bit - I had chances.
"The last four or five holes you won't get much out of it. It's into the breeze and uphill.
"I wouldn't want to go out and try to better my round. Birdies aren't easy to come by."
Players had to do battle with a range of elements on the second day. Bright sunshine in the morning turned to heavy rain and wind in the afternoon but their was no distinct change in the scoring.
Peterborough's Glyn Krause, of Elton Furze, is a shot off the pace after a second consecutive round of 71.
"I putted quite well." he said. "It's the first time I've played this event so we'll have to see what is required tomorrow.
Overnight leader Bill McColl dropped back after carding 75 to leave him in a four-way tie for third on three over along with Scottish duo Bill Lockie and Garry Harvey and Mitch Kierstenson.