GRAEME STORM produced the best round of his professional career to equal the course record at The Belfry yesterday.

Storm carded an outstanding eight-under par 64 in the second round of the British Masters to climb from nowhere to tied ninth on the leaderboard.

The Hartlepool golfer is now on course for a handsome pay-out in one of the biggest European Tour events in this country.

Storm, who led the Spanish Open at halfway two weeks ago before slipping up on the final day, had four birdies on each half as he bounced back from a disappointing opening-day two-over 74.

"I didn't expect it as on Thursday I holed nothing and nothing went right," said Storm, now on a six-under total of 138, five shots behind leader Paul Casey.

"On Friday nothing went wrong. The swing was just getting in my way a little, so I changed a few things and it paid off."

Storm is just two shots adrift of second-placed Ulsterman Darren Clarke.

As far as Casey is concerned, however, the European Tour can play every event at The Belfry if they want.

Winner of the Benson and Hedges International by four shots the last time the circuit came to town three years ago, Casey is the clear leader again heading into the third round.

While Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Paul McGinley, Nick Dougherty and Paul Lawrie were among those to miss the halfway cut, the 28-year-old added a 66 to his opening 67.

Still to register a bogey, Casey is already on the 11-under mark with which he triumphed in 2003.

''That's probably the first time I've not had a bogey in two rounds,'' he said. ''But there's a lot of golf left yet. I've been very fortunate to keep out of trouble.

''I'm sure the guys behind me have had their ups and downs and they can shoot fantastic numbers. It's going to be a battle.''

As for his love of the course, Casey added: ''Maybe it's because I have good memories.''

He was referring to not just the victory, but also the fact that he made his tour debut and collected his first tour cheque at the venue.

Clarke, who shared the first-day lead with Peter Hanson on 66, posted a 70.

But doing so well unfortunately had a downside for Clarke. The Liverpool fan had hoped to fly by helicopter after his third round to the FA Cup final - he had a seat in the Royal Box - but there will not be enough time now and he will have to content himself with a television view of the match instead.

McGinley's narrow failure to survive the cut, however, makes it easy for him to cheer on West Ham.

On seven under were US Open champion Michael Campbell, Scot Stephen Gallacher, Swede Johan Edfors, Australian Peter O'Malley and Casey's Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter.

Like Poulter, Casey failed to qualify for the Masters last month and does not have a place in next month's US Open yet either. But this weekend could solve that - the top 50 in the world gain exemptions and he is currently 57th.

Poulter has the same goal and at 71st in the rankings it still needs something special.

Poulter has an extra incentive for wanting to reignite his career.

The week after the Masters Clarke handed him a tongue-in-cheek ''wish you were here'' card from the Augusta National club signed by a number of players, including Tiger Woods.

He took it in good spirit and joked: ''I'm looking forward to the time when I can get my own back."

Published: 13/05/2006