Golf: Clarke hits four birdies en-route to lead

Darren Clarke has leaped into a share of the lead at 12 under par at the European Open after a hat-trick of birdies from the fourth hole.

A dropped shot at the next followed by his fourth birdie of the round left him sharing the lead at 12 under with Henrik Bjornstad.

The pair lead by one stroke from Mikael Lundberg, Ian Woosnam, who made three birdies in his outward run, and Jarmo Sandelin.

At 10 under are Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen - who is in the clubhouse after a round of 66 - and Thomas Levet of France.

Latest finishes:

E Romero (Arg) 74 for 288

C Hanell (Swe) 69 for 283

O Karlsson (Swe) 69 for 283

S Struver (Ger) 68 for 282

D Carter (Eng) 79 for 293

I Garbett (Eng) 76 for 289

A Hansen (Den) 70 for 283

R Muntz (Hol) 73 for 286

M Brier (Austria) 74 for 287

P Broadhurst (Eng) 78 for 291

S Dodd (Wales) 74 for 287

R Russell (Sco) 74 for 287

M Lafeber (Hol) 72 for 284

R Goosen (RSA) 66 for 278

R Jacquelin (Fra) 68 for 280

B Davis (Eng) 75 for 287

G Evans (Eng) 69 for 291

P Price (Wales) 67 for 279