WELSHMAN RHYS Davies fired the lowest round of his European Tour career to take the halfway lead at the Hassan Trophy in Morocco yesterday.

The 24-year-old, a team-mate of Rory McIlroy at the 2007 Walker Cup and third in the Malaysian Open two weeks ago, added an eight-under-par 64 to his opening 68.

At 13 under, Davies goes into the weekend two in front of former Ryder Cup pair Thomas Levet and Ignacio Garrido and South African Louis Oosthuizen.

First-round leader Nick Dougherty, who like Davies switched from the Red course at Royal Dar Es Salam to the shorter and easier Blue, scored three shots worse and dropped to joint fifth place on 10 under.

While McIlroy was an instant hit in the paid ranks — he secured a Tour card in a mere three starts – Davies failed on his first two trips to the qualifying school.

“This time last year I didn’t really have any status in Europe but I managed to get a win on the Challenge Tour and everything sort of spiralled from there,” the Bridgend player said.

Oosthuizen matched his 64, while Frenchman Levet returned a 65 and Spaniard Garrido a 67.

Peter Lawrie returned a 70 on the Red Course for a 136 halfway total while Gareth Maybin fired a 69 for 141 on the Blue. Darren Clarke shot 72 for 141 but Damien McGrane, Michael Hoey and Paul McGinley all missed the cut. McGinley was playing in his first tournament since a sixth knee operation last November.