McDowell in confident mood

Graeme McDowell and Damien McGrane have put themselves into an excellent position to challenge for honours at the Volvo China Open this weekend.

Consecutive rounds of 70 gave McDowell a halfway total of two under par at Shanghai Silport Golf Club, five shots behind clubhouse leader Raphael Jacquelin.

But the former Walker Cup star is confident there is more to come over the final two rounds as he seeks his first European Tour title since the 2004 Italian Open.

“I’m reasonably happy with two under,” the 27-year-old from Portrush said. “And I feel I’ve got a lot left in the tank this weekend. I haven’t quite played to my expectations yet but hopefully I’m saving that for the weekend.

“I haven’t hit the ball fantastically well, especially off the tees. I only hit three fairways yesterday and I think seven today so that was a little better.”

Ireland’s Damien McGrane is alongside McDowell on two under after adding a 69 to his opening 71.

“I’m pleased,” McGrane said. “I played steady again. I was in the rough a lot, which never helps, but I managed to get out of there and onto the greens and make my pars. If you can do that you’ve got a chance.”

Jacquelin leads the way on seven under and had at one stage looked like he would blow the field away with five birdies in his opening nine holes, plus another at the fifth to move to nine under.

However, bogeys at the seventh and eighth brought him back to within three shots of second-placed men Scott Hend from Australia and Argentinian Andres Romero after eventually completing a round of 67.

“The wind has changed direction so it’s a completely different course,” the Frenchman said.

“It’s not as strong but still made choosing the right club difficult, so any score under par you’ve got to be happy with.”

Wales’ Stephen Dodd also hauled himself back into the reckoning at one under par after recording a 67, three birdies on the back nine and two more on the front nine spoiled by his only bogey of the day at the fourth.

“I didn’t play great but the score is what matters and I am pleased with that,” he said. “The first holes were quite calm but our last nine was pretty tough.”

The English challenge is led by Gary Emerson, who is one under at the turn after four birdies more than made up for a disappointing double bogey at the par-three third, but Yasin Ali started to fade after looking threatening early in his second round.

Picking up a shot at his opening hole, the 10th, had briefly raised hopes of a charge up the standings as the 25-year-old moved to two under, but four bogeys combined with only two more birdies dropped him back to level par.