McDowell falters as Singh takes lead

Graeme McDowell's challenge faltered as the Northern Irishman failed to keep pace with Jeev Milkha Singh during the final round of the Ballantine's Championship today.

In serene conditions, the 36-year-old Singh, chasing a sixth Asian Tour and a third European Tour title at this co-sanctioned event, accelerated to 22-under-par to take a two-shot lead at the turn.

With the gusty winds seen earlier in the week on the exposed Jeju Island, 60 miles off the Korean peninsula, failing to materialise, McDowell and Singh - the overnight leaders on 18 under - resumed their shoot-out for the title at Pinx Golf Club in the inaugural European Tour event to be played in South Korea.

Seeking a first European Tour triumph since the 2004 Italia Open - his second title - McDowell relinquished the outright lead with a double-bogey six at the 18th yesterday and began par-par-birdie, while Singh opened par-birdie-birdie today.

The Ulsterman, whose season's best finish was fifth in the Dubai Desert Classic, then bogeyed the par-five fourth for the first time in the tournament while Singh made his third straight birdie to open up a three-shot lead.

McDowell pulled within two shots when he made a three at the par-four sixth before Singh carded a bogey-five on the seventh.

But Singh reclaimed the stroke with a three at the eighth, while McDowell's ball lingered on the cup as he made par before McDowell and Singh each made par at the ninth to reach the turn in 34 and 32, respectively.