Westwood takes lead on windy day

Lee

Lee Westwood leads the European Grand Prix at the halfway point. Allsport.

Westwood showed no signs of jet lag as he eased to the top of the leaderboard at the half-way stage of the Compaq European Grand Prix at Slaley Hall.

Fresh from his fifth place finish at last week’s US Open in California, the 27-year-old from Lincolnshire kept his cool as the blustery conditions claimed many victims on the second day in Newcastle.

The key to his four-under-par 68 – the best round of the day - was a birdie-birdie-eagle burst early on the back nine.

But close friend, stablemate and playing partner Darren Clarke failed to keep pace with his younger companion. The Irishman is eight strokes adrift on level par after carding a three-over 75. Clarke came home in 39.

The third member of the group, Jamie Spence, bogeyed the final hole for a 74 and now lies seven behind of Westwood.

On a day of 30mph winds, first round leader Sam Torrance slumped from six-under to one-over after a disappointing 79.

The veteran Scot started badly and got worse. He bogied his first and third holes, reached the turn in 38, and came home in 41 – which included a double-bogey at the 15th. "It was bloody tough out there," said the 46-year-old Torrance. "Just getting it round was difficult but there is nothing you can do about it.

"I missed a three-footer on the last that made me annoyed because I knew level par would not be far away.”

Another golfer to slip down the leaderboard was Francisco Cea who followed a 67 on Thursday, with a 77 just 24-hours later.

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