Erne Els forges ahead

PERTH -- Although reluctant to admit it, Ernie Els has produced some of his finest golf to open up a big lead at the halfway point of the $1.5 million Heineken Classic at the Vines Resort.

The dual U.S. Open champion followed his opening 65 in perfect conditions with a 66 in blustery winds on Friday to stand alone at 13-under-par 131, four shots clear of Australian Peter Lonard and overnight leader Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden.

Asked if his two rounds on the 6,942-metre layout designed by Graham Marsh were the best since he won his second U.S. Open in 1997, he said facetiously: "Well, it's certainly the best I've played this year."

He saved his best shot of the round until the last where his drive at the par-5 18th which measures 473 metres left him with just a wedge of about 125 metres to the green. "I had a gale behind me and it hit the downslope and ran about 100 yards," he said. "It was a good thing that it is a big green because I missed the flag about 40 feet to the right."

He two-putted for birdie and a big lead and will be very hard to run down on the weekend, considering his play so far this week, his liking for the course and finishing third and eighth here in the past two years.

"I'm just playing the course and not thinking too much," he said. "It is good for me when I don't think too much. I'm happy I'm playing well and just want to keep it up. When I am hitting the ball well and in control, I don't have to think too far ahead. You just do what is there. That is as far as your mind has to work. It is harder when you are not playing so well and have to think about your swing."

Despite the wind, Lonard's 67 on Friday was one shot better than his opening round, while Sandelin lost ground with a 73 after his 64 on Thursday.

"It was a pretty good day," said Lonard. "I hit it a lot closer yesterday but the wind was gusting. Today I knuckled down. Some shots in the wind go 30 yards further and you have to be on your toes, hit the ball into position and be careful with club selection."

The highlight of his round, which contained six birdies and a bogey, was his par at 14, he said. "I hit a snap hook 100 yards into the trees, found it and hacked it out. I was still 210 yards from the green and hit a 3-wood to the back of the green and watch it trickle down to 10 feet."

American Craig Hainline celebrated his 29th birthday with a round of 69 which included two bogeys to move into a share of fourth place with local Jarrod Moseley. "I'm hitting the ball well, making some putts when I need to, and am in a good position going into the weekend," he said.

This is his first trip to Australia but said he felt at home because he was playing with fellow American Bob May on a course that brought back memories of growing up in Witchita. "Bob and I shared a room for four years at Kansas State and we are staying together this week. We both felt comfortable and he played nicely and shot 69.

"The course is just like the ones back home and the wind blew today. If you are from Kansas, you like that."

He came to be playing in a European Tour event in Australia in a roundabout way. After college he played on the South African Tour in 1995, missed much of 1996 with a back injury, played the Challenge Tour in Europe in 1997 and graduated to the European Tour last year and finished 41st on the money list.

He returned to South Africa a fortnight ago for the S.A. PGA Championship and injured his hand in a courtesy car door on the way to the first tee. He played but missed the cut after rounds of 81 and 76, and a crushed nerve in his left wrist has left him with limited feeling in his hand.

The cut was made at even par 144, reducing the field to 68. Among those not playing on the weekend are Mac O'Grady, Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance.