Australia's Adam Scott blazed a six-under-par second round to tighten his grip on the Johnnie Walker Classic golf tournament on Saturday. The world number 10 followed up his course-record first round of 63 with another belter, knocking in seven birdies against one bogey in perfect conditions at the par-72 Pine Valley course.
Scott, 24, led American Gary Rusnak on 11 under with South Africa's Richard Sterne a shot further back. US Open champion Retief Goosen was nine under with New Zealander Michael Campbell and Sweden's Peter Hanson.
"Yesterday was surprising with coming out really early in the morning and playing eight holes at six under, and I think that really set me up for the week," said Scott.
"But today was a really solid round of golf. I made some par putts and some birdie putts and that's what you've got to do to go out and win a golf tournament."
Despite the four-shot lead, Scott said he still had a lot to do with four of the world's top 10 chasing in the 2.3 million dollar tournament.
"I've got Michael Campbell and Retief Goosen right there behind me at the moment. And there are great players like Ernie (Els) not far back," he said.
"I'm going to have to be aggressive if I want to stay out in front because they are going to make birdies and I have to keep doing that."
Campbell and Hanson also shot seven-under rounds on Friday, when they played 36 holes after play was suspended on Thursday due to high winds.
Els, tinkering with his swing after a disappointing US Masters, carded a five-under 67 on Saturday for a share of sixth spot along with Sergio Garcia and Colin Montgomerie.
Six-time major-winner Nick Faldo was the biggest name to miss the cut, with the third round due to tee off at around 2:00 pm (0700 GMT). The Johnnie Walker Classic is joint sanctioned by the European, Asian and Austral-Asian tours.