Paul Casey opens up three shot lead - Quinn Direct British Masters 2006

Casey was the last European Tour winner at the Belfry, in the 2003 Benson and Hedges International, and he is again showing his liking for the Brabazon course.

The 28-year-old Englishman has produced two blemish-free cards this week, his six-under 66 on Friday earning an 11-under aggregate of 133.

Casey compiled six birdies to move three ahead of fellow Briton Darren Clarke, the joint first-round leader.

While Casey considered himself somewhat fortunate to escape without a bogey, he was happy to be excelling on a course he holds dear.

"I have not played a lot of golf for the last two weeks so I'm excited to play like this," he told reporters. "Maybe it is because I have good memories of the course.

"I played my first European Tour event in 2001 here after an invite, made the cut on the nose and finished around 12th. It earned me my first European Tour cheque and my second as a pro."

Northern Irishman Clarke, who played so badly in Wednesday's pro-am that he nearly pulled out in order to spend time with his sick wife Heather, had two late birdies to register a second round 70.

U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell shared third place on 137 with Swede Johan Edfors, Britons Stephen Gallacher and Ian Poulter and Australian Peter O'Malley.

Despite being rusty after taking a month off, Campbell said he could figure in the title chase at the weekend. "You would think, logically, my peers would think of me being a threat at the weekend, which is kind of nice for the ego," said the New Zealander after a round of 70.

"It's nice, really empowers me, too, to have that feeling of looking at me as a major frontrunner."

Another Northern Irishman, Graeme McDowell, moved into contention with a hole-in-one at the 177-yard par-three seventh. He returned a 68 for 138, six under.

McDowell's prize for the ace was to have his three cars insured for a year.