Cameron Percy will take a three-shot lead into the weekend at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open after overcoming difficult conditions at Gleneagles to reach nine under par.

The 52-year-old Australian followed his opening 63 with a 2-under 68 on Friday, matching his lowest 36-hole score in an individual PGA Tour Champions event.

Jerry Kelly sits second at six under after also returning a 68.

Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson and Markus Brier share third at 4-under. Percy leads a field that includes several major champions.

Percy responds on the back nine

Wind made the firm and fast King’s Course a tougher assignment than it had been in the opening round. Every player in the field made at least one bogey, and Percy dropped shots at the fifth and eighth before responding with an approach to five feet at the ninth.

He turned in 35, then chipped in at the 13th to begin a back nine of 33. Percy added another birdie after getting up and down at the driveable par-four 14th, then two-putted for birdie at the par-five 18th.

“Obviously very happy,” Percy said. “It’s such a hard golf course. You’ve got to concentrate on every single shot. There’s no easy holes or anything. You can lose your ball on every shot.

“That’s what I like. It keeps me tuned in, if that makes sense.”

Percy said judging the wind was the main difference from his opening round, when he repeatedly found his intended targets. His ability to limit the damage on Friday kept him in control despite the more demanding test.

Kelly leads the chasing group

Kelly mixed four birdies with two bogeys in his 68. The 59-year-old, a 13-time PGA Tour Champions winner, is seeking his third senior major title and first Senior Open victory.

Stenson recorded a second successive 68, helped by a recovery at the ninth and a birdie after a long drive at the closing hole. Els shot 71, with a tee shot to ten feet at the driveable 14th helping him remain in contention.

Brier joined them at 4-under after a 69 containing an eagle at the par-five tenth. Matthew Cort produced the lowest round of the day, a three-under 67, to move into a tie for 14th.

Percy is seeking his first PGA Tour Champions title in his 52nd start. He finished second or tied second three times during 2025, including two playoff defeats, but has not won since the 2014 Price Cutter Charity Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour.

This is the third time Percy has led or shared the lead after 36 holes of a senior major. He finished seventh at the 2025 Senior PGA Championship and tied fifth at the 2026 Kaulig Companies Championship from the same position.

The halfway cut fell at 5-over, with 79 players advancing. Defending champion Pádraig Harrington made the weekend at 2-over, while Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink is one shot further back.

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