Confident Lee Westwood last night threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the field by declaring the Compaq European Grand Prix was his for the taking.

Westwood carded a brilliant, second consecutive 68 at windswept Slaley Hall for a halfway total of eight under par and a three-shot lead over Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson.

And there was good news for Hartlepool's Graeme Storm who made the cut after finishing on four over par.

Storm started with a dropped shot on the par 4 first - but followed it up with a birdie on the par four second.

He dropped further shots on the front nine on holes five, eight and nine, but pulled two back with birdies on the par four seventh and par five 12th.

A double-bogey on the par four 16th meant he finished four over par after a solid level par first round on Thursday.

Jacobson was one of only three players to break par as gusting winds up to 40mph buffeted the Northumberland course, sending scores soaring and threatening to embarrass some of Europe's finest.

Former English amateur champion Russell Claydon slumped to an 89 for a halfway total of 23 over par, Gordon Brand Jnr called a penalty shot on himself when his ball moved as he addressed a putt, and Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart came home in 45 after nine pars on his front nine.

But the 27-year-old from Worksop found it was just the wake-up call he needed after complaining of jet-lag earlier in the week following his return from the US Open at Pebble Beach where he finished fifth.

The world number nine came home in 31 with three birdies and an eagle holing a sand wedge approach from 78 yards on the 12th.

''I would hope to win from here,'' said Westwood who would move to second in the Order of Merit with the £108,000 first prize. ''I'm three shots clear of the field and I normally take a bit of catching when I'm ahead.

''I'm very happy with the position I'm in and I'd rather be leading than chasing.

''It's certainly the windiest conditions I've played in for a long time and cold as well. On the 17th tee I could see my breath and I wondered if this was really the end of June!

''But I've had on a couple of sweaters and this really blows the cobwebs away. It's one of the best rounds I've played in the wind. You only have to look at the scoring.

''I thought before I went out if I could just keep it at four under I'd be quite happy but I holed a good putt on the 10th, had a bit of luck and held it together well. I was quite pleased with myself.

''Playing last week sharpened up my scoring and it's kept me going this week.''

Westwood's upbeat mood was all a far cry from his demeanour just over a month ago when he despaired over his form.

''Having gone through a good patch has done me good, it makes you appreciate the good times,'' he added.

Westwood was three ahead of Jacobson who compiled a brilliant round of 70 in the strongest winds.

The 25-year-old Monaco-based Swede equalled the European Tour's modern-day record for the lowest number of putts matching Sam Torrance's total of 20 from the first round chipping in on the second and holing a bunker shot on the fourth for a par after a penalty shot.

''I don't know if it's the toughest conditions I've played in but add a bit of rain and it would have been!'' Jacobson said. ''If there was much more wind you couldn't play because the ball would start moving on the green.

''I'm really happy with my game especially as I had an operation on my left thumb in December after fracturing it when I fell on it playing ice hockey. It needed a pin in for six or seven weeks and I didn't get back into action until March.

''I've been working harder on my physical training and all of my game since last summer and it's nice when the results start to come.''