Choi grabs lead at Chrysler

Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju grabbed the second round lead after firing a superb five-under-par 66 in the Chrysler Championship on Friday.

With a two-day total of eight-under-par 134, he holds a one stroke lead over South African’s Ernie Els and Americans Jonathan Byrd and Brian Gay in the US PGA Tour event. Sweden’s Daniel Chopra shot a 72 as he was in joint 11th spot.

Thanks to his solid drive and consistent game, Choi, who started on the back nine, blasted three consecutive birdies on the 13th, 14th and 15th holes. He then leaped ahead of the field after firing four straight birdies on the first, second, third and fourth holes.

Using a five wood, Choi took his only stumble at the par three eighth hole when he powered the shot beyond the green as the ball landed in the thick rough for a double bogey. The Westin Innisbrook Resort proved to be a good hunting ground for Choi who had previously won the 2002 Tampa Bay Classic on the same venue.

Korea’s Kevin Na narrowly missed the cut after a 73. It was also the end of the road for India’s Arjun Atwal who stumbled to a 75. He is currently ranked 137th on the money list and needed to finish strongly in this event to stay in the top-125 for a card next season.

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit leader, shot up the leaderboard when he was even-par for the second straight in the Volvo Masters in Spain.

Singh blasted two birdies on the first nine but dropped two shots on the back nine as he spiraled up to joint ninth spot after a 142 total.

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, the two-time former Asian number one, carded three birdies against an equal number of bogeys as he was in tied 42nd position.

Asian Tour stalwart Yang Yong-eun remained in the leading fray when he shot a one-under-par 71 in the second round at the ABC Championship in Japan.

Yang, the recent Korean Open winner, fired three birdies against two bogeys to a two-day total of seven-under-par 137 in lone third spot. He trails leader Azuma Yano by two strokes.

After a fine start, Filipino talent Frankie Minoza dropped to joint 12th position when he shot a 74. Minoza was in tied 12th spot alongside Hur Suk-ho who was even-par for the day.

Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng was three over in the second round as he slipped to joint 42nd spot. Compatriot Thammanoon Srirot was in joint 73rd place after a 73 while shot a 76 in tied 80th spot.

On the Nationwide Tour, Australia’s Jarrod Lyle and Korea’s Charlie Wi carded matching 71s as the both players were unable to make the cut at the Miccosukee Championship. It was similar for Australia's Andrew Buckle who shot a 75.

Wi is ranked 36th on the money list and had to finish in the top-20 for a card next year. After a good finish last week, Lyle is almost certain of his spot for the 2007 season as he is ranked 14th on the money ranking.

October 28, 2006

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