Golf-Brown stays grounded to keep unlikely Open dream alive

TROON, Scotland (Reuters) - England's Dan Brown, the surprise British Open first-round leader, followed up his first-round 65 with a gritty 72 on Friday to finish two shots behind pacesetter Shane Lowry.

The 29-year-old world number 272, who came through qualifying to earn his place in the tournament, held his nerve to post another solid score as many of the sport's biggest names struggled on the tricky links course.

"I've always been quite laid back really," Brown told reporters. "I am a bit of a realist as well. I know I'm not going to start getting ahead of myself and thinking that I'm leading The Open or I'm second in The Open or whatever."

Brown is staying with friends close to the course which is helping him stay grounded.

"We've got a house like 10 minutes down the road and I've got a few of my mates staying as well," he said. "They'll do a good job in keeping my mind off of it."

He is enjoying his moment in the limelight after an unremarkable start to his professional career which has brought him one European PGA Tour title.

"I'm proud of what I've done and, hopefully, I can continue and sort of still be lingering around on Sunday," he said.

"It's a mammoth climb really when you're playing in conditions like that."

Leading the Open did not cause Brown to lose any sleep despite finish his opening round late in the day.

"I managed to get seven or eight hours in," he said. "I was knackered. I don't think I've had a late finish like that in a long time."

Brown found the conditions on Friday much harder to deal with.

"It was certainly three or four shots harder," he said. "Even the front nine played a lot stronger and then the back, you would think going back downwind it would make it easier, but it was so firm that it was a proper struggle to try and hold on to some of the greens really."

(Reporting by Ed Osmond; Editing by Christian Radnedge)