McDowell carded eight birdies at Celtic Manor on Saturday

Graeme McDowell charged into contention at the Wales Open as a seven-under 64 left him four behind Marcel Siem.

McDowell went to the turn in 31 and his only bogey on 16 was followed by two birdies as moved to seven under.

German Siem leads on 11 under after a 66 which leaves him three ahead of Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (66) and Thomas Bjorn (68).

Darren Clarke (73) dropped to level par while Gareth Maybin and Simon Thornton finished two over after 73s.

McDowell was joined on seven under by Stephen Gallacher (63) and Simon Dyson (65).

Clarke's charge up the leaderboard on Friday was halted by a triple bogey at the 16th and he struggled to get anything going on Saturday and failed to notch a birdie.

Maybin's only birdie of the day came at the 18th after three earlier bogeys.

Damien McGrane finished on two under after a 66 with Peter Lawrie was also two under after 13 after dropping one stroke on his overnight position and Shane Lowry is one under after a 69.

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