Paul Lawrie takes lead on weather hit day

Scotland's Paul Lawrie struck a battling two-under-par 70 to snatch the clubhouse lead in the weather-disrupted second round of the US$1.8 million BMW Asian Open on Friday.

In close pursuit was the charging Malaysian Danny Chia, who is tied second and a stroke back after an impressive 70 at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club. Filipino ace Frankie Minoza settled for a 72 to share second place with Chia, Ireland's Peter Lawrie and Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima.

Korea’s Charlie Wi, currently second on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, scrambled to 73 on a tough scoring day while young Ausssie talent Jarrod Lyle produced his second straight 71 to stay in the title hunt in the co-sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event.

Lawrie, the 1999 British Open champion, enjoyed a solid start from the 10th tee with a birdie on the 13th but fumbled on the 14th with a wayward tee shot into the bunker. He birdied the lengthy par five 18th hole but suffered a second bogey at the fifth hole. He closed in solidly with two more birdies on the seventh and ninth holes for a two-day total of four-under-par 140.

First round leader Henrik Stenson of Sweden was on the 18th green on five-under-par for the tournament before an electric storm suspended play at 4:45pm. Stenson, alongside 41 other players, will return at 8am Saturday to complete their second rounds.

“It was tough for us out there, the last nine holes out there the wind certainly started to pick up but it was a good day,” said Lawrie, five-time winner on the European Tour.

With his last victory being the 2002 Wales Open, Lawrie is keen to get back into the winner's circle. “It has been a while but we are slowly getting better. This week if I can get in there and give myself a chance, then why not,” said the 37-year-old.

It was sheer joy for Chia, 33, who has been experiencing a good change in form at the BMW Asian Open as he struck five birdies against three bogeys. "I’ve been hitting the ball better than last week but I guess it’s down to my mental strength. Last week I made mental mistakes but this time around, it is looking good,” he said.

Chia, who won the 2002 Acer Taiwan Open title for his lone Asian Tour triumph, tamed the tricky greens and windy conditions and remained composed against the elite field of players in Shanghai.

“Yesterday was pretty normal and I putted alright. Today is a totally different ball game as it was quite tricky around the golf course. The wind picked up and it was quite tricky. I hit a few good shots and didn’t get what I deserved and I continued to hang in there. It’s good for me and if I was given the chance I will go for birdie. I know with the weather being this tough, the score isn’t going to be that low,” said Chia.

The big-hitting Malaysian is relishing at the prospect of taking on Europe's best in the co-sanctioned event at the weekend. “Well, this is the first time I have been in this position in a co-sanctioned event. I hope to play well but I think I would be slightly nervous but I am looking forward to tomorrow. What I did today was spot on and I hope to continue tomorrow,” he said.

Among the most relaxed players on course is the veteran Minoza, who remained undeterred as he snared two birdies against two bogeys and finished even-par. Minoza said: “I am pretty happy with how I played. Everything worked well in every part of my game and I am pleased with where I am now. Let's see how the conditions are tomorrow but I will go out there and play like how I did today.”

Wi, who won the Maybank Malaysian Open two month ago, believes that the best is yet to come tomorrow as he aims to lift his game and challenge for a second title this season. “I had a lot of chances. I made a lot of birdies and made bogeys as well. I’ve been making too many mistakes and will try to limit it,” lamented the American-based Wi.

“You always want to do better, you are never satisfied. I guess I have to learn from it and hopefully I would do a little better. I had four bogeys and a double bogey today, luckily though I was able to make some birdies too,” he said.

The local fans had their share of thrills when local hero Liang Wen-chong carded a 74 and remained in tied 10th position five strokes off the pace. Thai star Thaworn Wiratchant, last year's Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, improved with a 70 and moved into tied 11th position.

Besides world class golfing action, spectators can also look forward to lots of fun and thrills at the BMW Asian Open Public Village. The adults can check the BMW cars display, try their hands at the golf simulators, mini-golf course, the UBS Game Improvement Zone and the Emirates Hole-in-One Challenge while the children can enjoy the BMW Safety Park, in addition to the daily trick golf show by Noel Hunt.