Grant Forrest sets course record to lead Nexo Championship at halfway mark

Forrest, who is based in North Berwick, made a rapid start with four birdies in his first five holes during his stunning 66 on the Old Course at Trump International Golf Links on Friday, overhauling Richard Sterne previous mark from the first round by a stroke.

Forrest admitted he has been struggling during the 2025 DP World Tour campaign, but home comforts after a three-week break seemed to do the trick as he climbed up to seven under in Aberdeenshire, one clear of Englishman Jordan Smith.

"Yeah it was, tough again today," Forrest said. "The wind was up, just played brilliant to be honest. Gave myself loads of really good chances and controlled my ball really well.

"Rolled a couple of putts in and left a couple out there, and overall great day.

"You don't get too many of those days where things really happen for you. This season has been a bit of a struggle for the most part, so just to play some really good golf is really encouraging.

"I felt pretty relaxed going into this week, I'm quite comfortable in these conditions and just happy with the way the game's going."

Forrest, who carded an opening 71, got his record round off to a perfect start with back-to-back birdies.

He picked up another brace of shots from the fourth after putts from three and eight feet respectively to join Smith, who had birdied the first, fifth and sixth and bogeyed the seventh, and overnight leader Richard Sterne at five under.

Forrest bogeyed the seventh to slip back briefly, only to bounced back at the eighth to return to five under.

Smith had momentarily stretched the lead to six under after a birdie at the tenth, the same hole Forrest birdied to climb to the summit alongside the Englishman.

The Scot was gifted the lead when Smith bogeyed the 15th, while Forrest saved par at the 14th after a lucky break when his wayward tee shot bounced from the thick rough and back into play.

He became the first person at seven under when he stuck his tee shot at the par three 16th to two feet, before parring his way home.

Smith bounced back to record successive 69s with a closing birdie to sit in solo second.

"I'm over the moon, so happy," he said. "I've just played really nicely, holed some really nice putts and controlled the ball pretty well into most of the holes too.

"It's mentally really, really, really tough. It's just draining. You've got to be on it for the whole round and you can't really relax."

Sterne birdied the last in his one over 73 to climb into third at four under, while Dutchman Daan Huizing was flawless in his 69 at three under.

English pair Todd Clements and Alex Fitzpatrick sit one shot further back alongside South African Justin Harding, Australia's David Micheluzzi and Finn Oliver Lindell.