DAMIEN MCGRANE COULDN’T quite reproduce the fireworks of yesterday, shooting a level-par round of 72 on the second day of the Ballantine’s Championship in Seoul, South Korea.

After further extending his single-shot overnight lead with birdies at the fourth and fifth holes, the Co Meath man faltered towards the end of this morning’s round, bogeying two of the final four holes to drop back to six-under par.

That score was good enough to leave McGrane in a tie for fourth place, four shots behind clubhouse leader Brett Rumford who carded a stunning nine birdies en route to a 63.

Miguel Angel Jiminez and Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen lie three shots behind the Australian on seven-under par, with Rhys Davies and James Morrison joining McGrane a further shot back.

After rather unspectacular openings yesterday, Paul McGinley, Gareth Maybin and Shane Lowry all finished their second round on two-under par, well inside the ten-stroke margin required to make the cut at Blackstone Golf Club.

Graeme McDowell had a somewhat less enjoyable afternoon as the USPGA tour moved to New Orleans for the first day of the Zurich Classic.

The Northern Irishman had double-bogeys at 12, 14 and 15, leaving him on one-over par after an opening round of 73. He tees off for his second round at 1:40pm Irish time this afternoon.

Bubba Watson and Australian Matt Jones lead the way on six-under par at TPC Louisiana with six players gathered a further shot back on five-under par.