Forest of Arden, June 07: Ian Poulter raced to the turn in 30 shots in the British Masters third round to rekindle hopes of successive European Tour victories. After surviving the halfway with nothing to spare at level par, Poulter resumed at the Forest of Arden eight strokes behind joint leaders Greg Owen and Richard Green. But when he birdied the first four holes and then the seventh and ninth as well the 27-year-old Englishman was only two behind. His front-nine 30 even included missed putts of 6ft and 15ft. Poulter had his seventh birdie of the day on the long 12th. Poulter led the Wales Open last week from start to finish, despite suffering from tonsillitis, to end a miserable run of five missed cuts in six starts. Lee Westwood, who needed a hole-in-one to stay in the tournament on Friday, went to four under with birdies at the second, third and fourth.

New Zealander Stephen Scahill, first man out on Saturday, reached the turn in 33 and then eagled the 547-yard 12th to move to five under. South Korean Charlie Wi birdied the first, eagled the 524-yard seventh and birdied the next to stand four under.

Defending champion Justin Rose, another player who only just made the cut, was out in 34 thanks to birdies at the seventh and eighth.

Bureau Report