Phillip Prices edges ahead at halfway - Abu Dhabi Golf Championship 2007

Phillip Price upstaged the big names in the field when he fired a blazing second-round 65 to take a one-shot lead in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Friday.

The Briton, striking the ball neatly, made a fluent start, going three under after four holes and kept the momentum rolling to finish strongly with a birdie for a 36-hole total of 10-under-par 134, one shot ahead of Padraig Harrington.

The European order of merit winner followed his opening 68 with a 67 to stay within striking distance. The Irishman, starting from the 10th, birdied his first three holes and picked up a shot each on the 15th and 16th, but failed to keep the birdies going as the round wore on and finished with a bogey on the ninth, his closing hole.

"It's always disappointing to finish with a bogey, but nine-under-par after two rounds you will take it any day. I can't complain," said Harrington.

"Everything about the course is ideal for playing good golf and sort of breeding some confidence into your game."

Snapping at the heels of the leaders at eight-under-par 136 were a foursome headed by Miguel Angel Jimenez, who matched Price's 65 after shooting a 71 in the first round.

Others in the chasing pack include India's Shiv Kapur, who carded a second-round 66, while Australia's Nick O'Hern shot a back-to-back 68 and Italy's Alessandro Tadini got a bogey-free 66 on Friday.

Defending champion Chris DiMarco followed his opening 69 with a two-under-par 70 for a tied 18th position while last year's runner-up Henrik Stenson shot a level-par 72 to be among a group tied at 10th with six-under 138 along with overnight leader Phillip Archer, who carded a disappointing 75 after a 63 on the opening day.

The day belonged to Price, ranked 354th in the world and 94th in Europe. "I think it has been quite a while since I led in a tournament," said the Welshman.

"The last time I led in a tournament was probably during the Smurfit European Open in 2003, so it was long time ago," added Price, whose shot of the day came on the last when he smashed his wedge from 97 yards to a couple of inches from the pin.

India's Kapur was equally pleased with his efforts. "I was a bit lucky today. I got the good end of the draw and was out there almost before daybreak. There was no wind for my first 10 or 12 holes and I made a few putts and just kept it going," he said.

The cut was made at one-under-par 143 and those who missed out on playing at the weekend included India's Jeev Milkha Singh.