Quiroz moves two clear at halfway

Asian Tour's new boy Alejandro Quiroz of Mexico snatched a two-stroke halfway lead at the TCL Classic on Friday with Korea 's Choi Gwang-soo, Paul Casey of England and Scotsman Colin Montgomerie hot on his heels.

Quiroz, playing in his first event in Asia after earning his Tour card from Qualifying School, maintained his irrepressible form at Yalong Bay Golf Club, shooting a second straight seven-under-par 65 to lead on 14-under-par 130.

Choi, a two-time winner in the region, produced a 67 to carry the Asian challenge while, Casey, one of the four overnight leaders, returned a 68. Montgomerie, the winner of the TCL Classic when it was last played in 2002, surged into contention with a brilliant 65 to join Choi and Casey on 12-under 132 in the US$1 million event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Chinese Taipei duo Lin Keng-chi, the Asian number in 1995, and Lu Wen-teh were a further stroke back alongside Danish star Thomas Bjorn. Lu made light work of the easy scoring conditions, shooting seven birdies for a 64 while Lin enjoyed six birdies and an eagle against three bogeys for a 67.

With another low scoring day, the halfway cut was set at six-under-par 138 with 72 players progressing. It was the lowest halfway cut ever on the Asian Tour and matched the record on the European Tour.

Quiroz was delighted to take pole position ahead of some world-class names. A regular on the Canadian Tour and a three-time World Cupper for his country, Quiroz finished seventh in the Asian Tour school in January but frustratingly waited in vain as an alternate in earlier stops in Singapore and Malaysia.

“I couldn't get in to Malaysia and Singapore but I am very happy so far. Maybe some people think this is a surprise, but I know I am very capable of playing well. It is a matter of trusting myself, trusting my game and trusting swing under pressure. I think I have the game to play in this company and now that I am putting better than I have ever before. It is a matter of being relaxed and being loose," said Quiroz.

The Mexican said he is unperturbed with the stars taking a shot at him at the weekend. "I think my game is right there with them. Yes, they are superstars. It would be a nice experience for me to play with them, but I have to take it as just one more day on the golf course and will just try and play well and enjoy myself."

A staple diet of ginseng and Korea 's local delicacy "kim chee" has kept 45-year-old Choi in good shape as he got into the title mix. "This is the kind of golf course which the Asians will enjoy and I think the Asian players will do well this weekend.

“Today, it was my putting and short game which kept me in it. I played in both Singapore and Malaysia and made the cut. I am always aiming for the top-10 in these events and think I can do it again," said Choi.

A name that lurked menacingly on the leaderboard at the halfway stage was Montgomerie, who needs to finish second this week to qualify for The Players Championship in America and also for the Masters.

“The 65 was a nice round and the eagle (on 13) really helped. It was nice to play with Paul (Casey), though. We really helped each other along. It is nice to play with someone you know and the draw was kind to us," said Montgomerie, who is ranked 54th in the world.

"I know what I have to do here and that is to finish second to get into The Players Championship (next week) and that is a real task. I have got myself into position now, which is good. I am doing very well here and I am very proud of myself. I am a couple back and, on this course, that is only one hole," said Montgomerie.

Amongst the casualties who missed the low halfway cut were India 's Jyoti Randhawa, currently ranked second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and Welshman Ian Woosnam, the 2006 European Ryder Cup captain.

China 's Zhang Lian-wei, Liang Wen-chong and Zheng Wen-gen all made the weekend play right on the 138 mark.

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