Graeme McDowell’s 68 puts him high up leaderboard at Sea Island

Kevin Chappell takes clubhouse lead in The RSM Classic

Graeme McDowell carded a four-under 68 to move to seven under after the second round of The RSM Classic at Sea Island in Georgia. Photograph:  Nigel French/PA Wire
Graeme McDowell carded a four-under 68 to move to seven under after the second round of The RSM Classic at Sea Island in Georgia. Photograph: Nigel French/PA Wire

Graeme McDowell continued his fine recent form in the second round of The RSM Classic at Sea Island in Georgia.

Fresh off his win at the OHL Classic in Mexico last Monday, McDowell carded a four-under 68 on the Plantation Course to move to seven under.

That left him four shots off clubhouse leader Kevin Chappell, who made it to 11 under thanks to a five-under 65 on the Seaside Course.

Although the wind got up, the players again took again took advantage of soft conditions on the two courses at Sea Island.

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McDowell made most of his gains on the back nine of the less exposed Plantation Course after starting from the 10th hole.

The Portrush golfer made back-to-back birdies threes on the 12th and 14th holes and also added birdies at the two par-fives on the back nine to turn in four-under 32.

At seven under, McDowell looked well placed to make a charge at the top spot on the leaderboard, but he would finish the day on the same mark after a bogey on the fifth and a fifth birdie of the day on the short seventh.

Chappell broke clear of the field thanks to an eagle three of the par-five 15th at the Seaside Course, chipping in from the greenside bunker.

The American also carded four birdies and a single bogey in his 65 to move to 11 under, one shot ahead of first-round leader Kevin Kisner, who a three-under 67 on the same layout. Sweden's Freddie Jacobsen also make it to 10 under after carding a five-under 67 on the Plantation Course.