2007 Mercuries Taiwan Masters - Round 2: Oh leads by four at halfway

Korea’s Ted Oh remained firmly at the top of the leaderboard after the completion of the second round of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Saturday.

A total of 54 players went out on course to complete their rounds after play was suspended due to darkness on Friday. Australia’s Gary Simpson and former champion Lu Wen-teh were among the biggest movers as they rose to joint second position after a 71 and 69 respectively.

Defending champion Gaurav Ghei, who is ranked sixth on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, completed his round with a slow 78 in tied 35th position alongside compatriot S.S.P Chowrasia who delivered a similar score for a 150 total.

Oh blasted a four-under-par 68 on Friday and remains on top with a four stroke advantage at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club. Oh, 31, who is eager for an improved outing after a lone third place finish last year, battled through a wet and windy day on Friday for a two-day total of five-under-par 139.

The Korean leader fired seven birdies against three bogeys in the US$500,000 event.

Amateur Chiang Chen-chi shot a 73 and slipped to tied fourth place after a 145 total alongside compatriot Chen Yuan-chi who carded a 69. First round leader and amateur Chen Ming-tsuan dropped to joint seventh spot after a 78.

Second placed Lu, who is the only player to win the event twice in 1994 and 1996, enjoyed a steady round with two birdies against a lone bogey as he aims to close the four stroke gap for a chance of a third success on his home course.

”I was on the second hole when the tournament was suspended yesterday but I returned today parring the remaining eight holes so I know that I stand a very strong chance over the weekend after my two-day total.

“I did it twice before and I know that I can win it for the third time. I am really excited to face the weekend rounds,” said the 44-year-old Lu.

Australia’s Simpson was pleased with his return to the course firing a birdie on the 10th green as he ended his round with a 71.

“I hope to stay as close as possible to Ted because he knows what he’s doing out there. I played with him in the first two rounds last week and he is a great guy, we talk a lot and I hope to have an enjoyable round today,” said Simpson.

The third round will tee off at 10:30am.

Leading second round scores (click here for full leaderboard):

139 - Ted Oh (KOR) 71-68
143 - Gary Simpson (AUS) 72-71, Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 72-71
145 - Chiang Chen-chi [A] (TPE) 72-73, Chen Yuan-chi (TPE) 76-69, Iain Steel (MAS) 72-73
146 - Brad Iles (NZL) 73-73, Artemio Murakami (PHI) 71-75, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 72-74, Chen Ming-tsuan [A] (TPE) 68-78, Gary Rusnak (USA) 73-73, Yeh Chang-ting (TPE) 73-73, Lin Keng-chi (TPE) 72-74, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 73-73
Lu Wei-chih (TPE) 70-76, Hsu Mong-nan (TPE) 70-76
147 - Ashley Hall (AUS) 76-71, Jason Knutzon (USA) 75-72, Chen Tsang-te (TPE) 74-73, Danny Chia (MAS) 71-76, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 72-75, Lien Lu-san (TPE) 75-72, Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 73-74
148 - Lin Wen-hong (TPE) 73-75, Keith Horne (RSA) 72-76, Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-76, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 73-75, Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 74-74, Anthony Kang (USA) 75-73, Ben Leong (MAS) 73-75, Somkiat Srisanga (THA) 74-74

September 22, 2007

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