Birthday-boy Anthony Wall builds challenge

Anthony Wall celebrated his 34th birthday by staying in contention for the European Open title, but playing partner Shane Lowry's professional debut ended after only two days.

Irishman Lowry, whose victory at the Irish Open two weeks ago made him only the third amateur to win a European Tour title, could add only a 73 to his opening 78 at the London Club in Kent.

Wall followed up his 68 with a 69 and at seven under par, 15 better than the 22-year-old, is just one shot behind France's Michael Lorenzo-Vera, who also hit a 69 today.

Joint sixth in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last Sunday, the Englishman had five successive birdies from the 12th.

He began his run there by chipping to 18 inches, then sank putts of 14, eight and five feet before hitting a superb approach to 10 feet on the difficult 486-yard 16th. He finished disappointingly, however, with a bogey on the ninth.