Darren Clarke has two-shot lead at Senior British Open; Canada’s Ames in third

GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) — Chasing a maiden senior major title, Darren Clarke opened a two-shot lead at the Senior British Open after the second round at Gleneagles Friday.

Clarke, from Northern Ireland, shot a 3-under 67 that left him alone on top of the leaderboard, at 8 under. He had two bogeys and a birdie on the front nine but an excellent back nine punctuated by four birdies.

“Around the front nine today, I was so-so,” Clarke said. “My right foot slipped a couple of times but apart from that I played really nicely.”

Scott Parel of the United States was two back after an up and down 68.

Canada’s Stephen Ames, who shared the lead after the opening round, finished the second round in a group of seven players tied for third.

The group, which boasts nine major championships between, them was three strokes off the lead. It also included four-time winner Bernhard Langer, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, David Frost, 2016 champion Paul Broadhurst, and Jerry Kelly.

Colin Montgomerie, 2018 champion Miguel Angel Jiménez, Miguel Angel Martin, Steven Alker and Glen Day were four shots off the lead.

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