Siem moves out front at Irish Open

KILLARNEY, Ireland, July 29 (UPI) -- Marcel Siem was 3 under par for his final three holes Friday and climbed into the lead halfway through the European Tour's Irish Open.

Siem posted an eagle on the 16th hole and a birdie on 17 before closing with a par and his second consecutive 5-under-par 66 for a 36-hole total of 10-under 132.

First-round leader Jeev Milkha Singh was 1-under Friday and dropped into second place, one stroke behind Siem. Soren Hansen, despite a first-hole bogey for the second consecutive round, finished with a second-round 66 and is tied with Singh.

Ignacio Garrido closed each nine with three consecutive birdies en route to a 6-under 65 and is alone in fourth at 8-under 134. Six more players are tied at 7-under.

Siem opened Friday's play with a birdie and was still 1 under after six holes. He moved up with back-to-back birdies at Nos. 7 and 8.

He had two bogeys and a birdie over the span of Nos. 12-15 before the eagle at the par-5, 519-yard 16th hole pulled him even with Singh and Hansen and the birdie at 17 that put him ahead.