2006 GS Caltex Maekyung Open - Round 2: Korean quartet lead field at halfway

Lee, 26, has a two-day total of 11 under-par 133 and opened a two stroke lead over countryman Kim Sang-ki who shot an impressive 65 at the Lakeside Country Club.

Local talent Suk Jong-ryul carded a 69 and shared third position alongside compatriot Lee Seong-hoon who managed a 68 while American Bryan Saltus shot a 68 in lone fifth position. There was a six-way tie at sixth place that included Indian ace Amandeep Johl who scored his second consecutive 69.

Thai’s latest prodigy Chinarat Phadungsil improved with a 68 and was tied in 12th position with Korea’s Charlie Wi, who is ranked second on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, as he scored a 70.

Despite a sluggish start with a bogey at the third hole, Lee, who is born deaf, fired back with three consecutive birdies at the fourth, fifth and sixth holes and a birdie on the ninth. He was blemish free on the back nine and carded three more birdies on the 14th, 16th and 17th holes.

“I am very happy with the way things are going but I don’t want to say anything until after four rounds,” said Lee.

“I have been driving the ball well which is important here and only missed one green today. My putts were solid too and that’s the key around here but disappointed as I missed a 12 footer for birdie at the last hole,” he added.

Suk, meanwhile, is riding on home ground advantage and was pleased with his round as he produced six birdies against three bogeys.

Suk said: “I putted well and made a few long putts and didn't have any three putt. I sank one for birdie on 18th from 12 feet which was a bonus.

“We are used to playing this kind of courses with a lot of Out of Bounds, which is a bit different from the other Asian Tour courses. We probably manage our way mentally a bit better over here.

“But I felt very nervous. There is always lots of pressure playing in front of Korean fans. I'm aware they have high expectations of us playing at home,” he said.

Johl had five birdies against two bogeys while Chinarat, who is ranked 29th on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, enjoyed a bogey-free round with birdies on the eighth, 11th, 14th holes and ended the day with a final birdie on the par four 18th hole.

American Edward Loar, former Korean Open winner, is brimming with confidence as he climbed up the leaderboard after a 68.

“I love playing in Korea as it suits my game. And you can hit it long and the ball is running this week on the fairway,” said Loar.

“The greens are great but the key for me is that I have been playing the par fives very well. All the par fives are reachable and I’m six under for the par fives this week.”

After a poor first round, defending champion Choi Sang-ho shot four birdies and two bogeys for a 70 as he made the cut in shared 45th position with Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat who carded a lowly 66 and Australia’s Richard Moir who was even-par for the day.

Leading second round scores

133 - Lee Sung (KOR) 67-66

135 - Kim Sang-ki (KOR) 70-65

136 - Suk Jong-ryul (KOR) 67-69, Lee Seong-hoon (KOR) 68-68

137 - Bryan Saltus (USA) 69-68

138 - Noh Seung-yul [A] (KOR) 69-69, Shin Yong-jin (KOR) 70-68, Kim Dae-sub (KOR) 68-70, Han Young-keun (KOR) 73-65, Amandeep Johl (IND) 69-69, Hong Soon-sang (KOR) 70-68

139 - Hur Won-kyung [A] (KOR) 70-69, Chung Joon (KOR) 69-70, Chinarat Phadungsil (THA) 71-68, Charlie Wi (KOR) 69-70

140 - Edward Loar (USA) 72-68, Eric Chun [A] (KOR) 69-71, Kwon Myung-ho (KOR) 70-70, Michael Wright (AUS) 72-68, Iain Steel (MAS) 70-70

141 - Park Boo-won (KOR) 70-71, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 71-70, Kim Chang-yoon (KOR) 71-70, Choi Hyuk-jae (KOR) 72-69, Choi Jin-ho (KOR) 71-70, Jun Tae-hyun (KOR) 71-70, Bae Sung-chul (KOR) 71-70, Gary Simpson (AUS) 72-69, Scott Barr (AUS) 68-73, Ari Savolainen (FIN) 70-71, Prom Meesawat (THA) 70-71

April 28, 2006

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