McDowell capitalises on Siem slip

Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and local hope Rhys Davies both went to the turn in just 30 strokes at the Wales Open today – and were fighting for the title after overnight leader Marcel Siem had an early quadruple-bogey seven.

Siem, three ahead when he resumed, put two balls in the water on the short third and after seven holes had fallen six shots behind.

In contrast Davies sank an eight-iron approach to the eighth for an eagle two during a run of eight under for eight holes around the turn.

It took him to 11 under, but McDowell birdied six of the first eight holes to reach 13-under.

Four behind in joint third place were English pair Luke Donald and Robert Rock, Donald the man who pipped Davies by a stroke in last week’s Madrid Masters.

The day had already seen Marc Warren equal the day-old course record of 63 set by his fellow Scot Stephen Gallacher.