Former British Open champion Paul Lawrie opened up a two-shot lead after another bogey-free round at the midway point of the Johnnie Walker Championships on Friday.

Lawrie added a 69 to his opening 67 for an eight-under-par halfway total of 136.

Northern Ireland's Jonathan Caldwell was in second place with a superb 66 while Jose Maria Olazabal was sharing third spot with Denmark's Soren Hansen, France's Gregory Bourdy and Shiv Kapur of India.

"I played very well today and I hit the ball extremely solidly," said Lawrie.

"To be eight under par after two rounds without a bogey on my card is very pleasing here on a course which is demanding."

Olazabal was delighted with a 68 that started with five birdies in six holes.

The 43-year-old Spaniard, whose appearances the last three years have been limited by rheumatism, said: "I can't practise as much as I need and there's still a little bit of pain here and there, especially when I wake up in the morning. You have to take it slow and give yourself time to try to loosen up. I have to live with that for the time being."

Olazabal has not had a top ten finish in Europe since 2006.

Kapur had joined Lawrie out in front by sinking a 90-yard pitch for an eagle three on the 533-yard 18th.

But that was his ninth hole of the day and after a birdie at the first he bogeyed the third and ran up a triple bogey six on the short fourth, where he needed three attempts to get out of a bunker.

Also making his presence felt was 19-year-old New Zealander Danny Lee, playing his first event in Europe since becoming the circuit's youngest ever winner in Australia in February.

Lee, who turned professional after the Masters in April and has based himself in the United States since then, had six birdies, but four bogeys meant he had to be content with a 70 and three under par aggregate.