Golf

Mahan into Canadian lead despite Merrick's 62

Graeme McDowell 10 shots adrift of the leader despite a fine 65

Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland on the 18th hole during round two of the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abby Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Photograph: Hunter Martin/Getty Images
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland on the 18th hole during round two of the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abby Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Photograph: Hunter Martin/Getty Images
Sat Jul 27 2013 - 13:29

Hunter Mahan finished with a flurry of birdies in an eight-under-par 64 to seize the halfway lead in the RBC Canadian Open.

His fellow American John Merrick had set the clubhouse lead on 11-under 133 after a magical 10-under 62 that contained an eagle and eight birdies, but Mahan jumped into a two-shot advantage after following up his opening 67 in style.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell put a dismal Thursday behind him as he improved on his opening round by 11 shots, banishing memories of his 76 by going round in a sparkling 65, that included an eagle at the long 16th hole. He is staying for the weekend, and more of the same could hoist the former US Open champion into contention.

The 31-year-old Mahan had a ninth-placed finish at the Open Championship last week and the five-time winner on the PGA Tour gave himself another excellent chance to contend for silverware this weekend. He birdied two, three, four, 11 and 13 before finishing with gains at each of the last three holes.

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On a leaderboard dominated by players from the United States, Bubba Watson occupied third position on nine under after bettering his opening 68 by one shot, while a pair of 68s have put Patrick Reed on eight under.

Australian Aaron Baddeley has also had two rounds of 68 so far.

Tommy Gainey jumped 87 places after a huge improvement on his first-round 73, managing an eight-under 64 second time around to join Chris Kirk in a share of sixth place on seven under.

The overnight leader Brendan Steele had an awful day.

Yesterday’s 65 put him at the front of the pack, and a 75 knocked him back to four under. It was another troubling day for Luke Donald with the former world number one, who missed the cut at the Open, also poised to miss out on the weekend in Ontario.

A one-under 71 put the Englishman on level par, one shot adrift of the anticipated cut mark.

Mark Wiebe carded a superb second-round 65 to earn a share of the halfway lead with Bernhard Langer in the Senior Open at Royal Birkdale.

The 55-year-old American started the day at level par but picked up six birdies in his round to leap to the top of the leaderboard at five under alongside Langer who shot a 67. Langer and Wiebe are one shot clear of South Africa's David Frost while Ireland's Mark McNulty is among a group of three a shot further back on three under.
AMATEUR

Lisa Maguire is in a share of sixth place in the European Amateur Championship in Finland yesterday after another steady round.

The 18-year-old Irish international from Slieve Russell returned a level par 71 over the Aura course in Turku for a 54-hole aggregate of 212. But she is eight strokes behind Emily Pedersen who . spread-eagled the field yesterday with a stunning 64 to take control.