• Trophee Hassan II, Day Two

Davies leads at halfway point of Trophee Hassan II

Rhys Davies carded a 64 to claim the clubhouse lead © Getty Images

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Welshman Rhys Davies took advantage of the less demanding Blue Course to claim the clubhouse lead at 13-under as the Trophee Hassan II reached its halfway point.

Davies hit an eight-under 64 on the second day, having commenced at five-under following a 68 in his first round on the longer Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

The World No. 121 Davies, who finished third at the Malaysian Open, shared his eight birdies equally between the front and back nine during his bogey-free round.

South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen equalled Davies' round of 64 to put him in a tie for second with France's Thomas Levet. Oosthuizen made light work of the Blue Course - securing birdies on seven of the first 11 holes - as he looks to beat his best tournament performance this year by finishing in the top five.

Overnight leader Nick Dougherty struggled to replicate the form he exhibited on day one, as he finished level-par for the first nine. The Englishman propelled himself back into contention with successive birdies at 15, 16 and 17 to card a three-under 69, leaving him tied for fourth with Thomas Aiken, Joost Luiten and Rafa Echenique at ten-under.

Peter Lawrie is one shot back from that pack after shooting a three-birdie back nine that had not looked possible when he was struggling at level-par at halfway. He is joined at nine-under overall by England's Sam Little, who did not drop any shots on his way to carding a 69.

Darren Clarke is four-under after two rounds after carding a 72 that displayed the best and worst of his game with five birdies and four bogeys.

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