The 1999 Open champion followed up Friday’s opening 66 with another brilliant 18 holes, going bogey-free to reach 11-under-par and claim the outright lead as he seeks a first Staysure Legends Tour title since 2022.

If he is to win, the Scot will need to hold off some of the Tour’s form players, with Jean Hugo and Johan Edfors – both winners this season – just a shot back at -10. Three players sit at -8; Mikael Lundberg, who won the Staysure English Legends in August, Keith Horne and former BMW PGA champion Simon Khan. English duo Robert Coles and Greg Owen are at -7.

“I probably played better today, tee to green,” said Lawrie after making light work of the testing Pinheirinho layout. “The ball striking was good and it’s two good scores for 11-under. Golfers are strange people – you feel it’s a good score, but you still feel it should be better. It’s a good score but I left a few out there. It’s good to feel like that – you shouldn’t feel you got everything you wanted. It makes sure you go out tomorrow hungry to get those back.”

With only a handful of competitive rounds under his belt this season, Lawrie revealed he has been working hard on his putting with his nephew Sean Lawrie, who is a qualified PGA Professional.

“He spotted that it was a little wristy,” said Lawrie. “I need to use my body more and my wrists less. The ball was also too far forward, so I’ve been working on that, too. It’s only been a couple of weeks, so it’s difficult to put into practice. It’s been a lot better and although it wasn’t great today, you expect that when you’re making changes. You’ll have good days and days when it doesn’t feel as comfortable, but overall it’s good.”

Ahead of a final-round shoot-out with Hugo, Edfors and the chasing pack, Lawrie was typically level-headed about his game-plan for Sunday. “Nothing changes, really,” he added. “You’re back to square one, back to level. You’re trying to shoot as many birdies as you can, play the course properly and not be silly, and not take on things you don’t need to. I’ve kept the ball in play really well the first two days. If I can keep doing what I’m doing, hopefully I can post a number that’s good enough.”

In Johan Edfors he will face stiff competition. The three-time DP World Tour winner has already claimed victory twice in his debut full season on the Staysure Legends Tour, with impressive wins at Carton House in the OFX Irish Legends and at Fontanals in the European Legends Cup. And after two bogey-free rounds of 67 the Swede will be a force to be reckoned with.

“I played solid again today and gave myself a lot of chances,” said Edfors. “Fortunately I holed a couple of putts on the back nine and it’s always nice to finish birdie, birdie. I’ve been hitting my driver really well, and my irons too. I’ve been giving myself plenty of opportunities and I haven’t really been in any trouble so far. Two bogey-free rounds doesn’t happen very often for me, so hopefully I can have another one tomorrow.

“Hopefully the wins from earlier in the year give me a bit of confidence tomorrow. I’m obviously going to try to go for the win, but it’s golf and you never know who’s going to show up on the tee. So far this week, though, I’ve been solid in most parts of my game.”

For Jean Hugo, who will complete the final three-ball on Sunday, battling it out with Edfors and Lawrie in particular will be a full-circle moment. The South African’s first professional event was the 1999 Open at Carnoustie, won in memorable fashion on home soil by Lawrie, and will be relishing the chance to go head-to-head with the Scot for the title after a solid 68.

Aside from the title, there is a fight on for Road to Cambodia Order of Merit points, with Edfors and fellow Swede Mikael Lundberg looking to chase down leader Stephen Gallacher, who shot a second-round 69 to sit tied ninth. The low round of the day – and a new course record – went to Phillip Archer, who rocketed into the top-10 with a stunning 65 that included eight birdies.

Play resumes on Sunday morning with entry free to spectators.

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