Poulter and Clarke hatch more birdies

Ian Poulter was involved in another birdie battle today - this time with Darren Clarke and Australian Peter O’Malley.

Poulter, who on Sunday lost a thrilling shoot-out for the British Masters title to close friend Justin Rose, had five birdies in his first 11 holes of the Compass Group English Open at the Forest of Arden.

But Clarke, joint favourite for the title with Rose, matched that and O’Malley, the third member of the group and the defending champion, was just behind on three under.

Rose was among the late starters and it looked as though the 21-year-old would have to maintain the pace of his two closing 65s last weekend to keep his name in lights.

Poulter and Clarke led by a single stroke from local player Sam Walker, Welshman Mark Pilkington and France’s Raphael Jacquelin.

O’Malley was the first of the trio to find form, grabbing birdies at the 10th and 11th after they set off on the inward half.

Poulter, however, also birdied the 11th and then picked up further strokes on the 15th, 17th, first and second.

Clarke, seeking his first win since the European Open in Dublin last July, birdied the 12th and 14th and then matched Poulter’s three birdies around the turn.

Walker, a 23-year-old from Birmingham whose brother Josh was on Manchester United’s books, came through the qualifying school at the fourth attempt last November, but currently languishes in 157th place on the order of merit.

He has missed his last three halfway cuts, but birdies at the 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th meant he turned in 32.