Rumford makes all the running as Westwood fails to close gap

(Getty Images)

Australian Brett Rumford left world No 1 Lee Westwood trailing in his wake en route to a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Ballantine's Championship in Seoul.

Rumford, well off the pace with a 71 on day one, went round in 63 yesterday, with five birdies on the opening nine and a strong finish marked by two more on the 17th and 18th.

Rumford, from Perth, who won the last of his three European Tour titles at the Omega European Masters in 2007, now hopes for a chance to make up for last year, when he fell just short in second place.

His was the round of the day by three shots, ahead of the 66 managed by Soren Kjeldsen, who moved into a share of second place. He is level on seven under par with Miguel Angel Jimenez. However, Westwood, who took over the world No 1 ranking last week, could only manage a 68, still a considerable improvement on yesterday's 72. Westwood got off to a good start with an opening birdie, but gave a shot back on the third hole before back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth. There were also bogies on the 13th and 16th, leaving him tied for 11th place. Ireland's Damien McGraine, the overnight leader on 66, suffered with three bogies leaving him with a 72.