Seoul, May 27: Korean stalwart Choi Sang-ho charged into a four-shot lead at the halfway stage of the US$500,000 Maekyung Open after firing a two-under-par 70 in the second round on Friday.
The 50-year-old overnight leader, who opened his campaign with a 66, produced another steady display at Nam Seoul Country Club to knock in four birdies against two dropped shots and leads the Asian Tour event on eight-under-par 136.
Korean amateur Kim Kyung-tae produced an impressive 69 to trail on 140 while Australian Marcus Both overcame a mid-round wobble to end the day in third place, a further stroke back.
Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant, ranked second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, carded a second straight 71 for joint fourth place alongside Mexican Alejandro Quiroz and Korea's Park Do-kyu, Sung Si-woo and amateur Kim Hae-dong, who shot the day's joint low round of 67.
Choi, one of Korea's top players during his prime, started his round from the 10th and showed no signs of abating as he toured his opening nine holes in one-under, thanks to a birdie on the par five 16th hole.
He dropped back to even par on two occasions with bogeys on the first and sixth holes sandwiching his second birdie of the day on the fourth. However, the cool Korean produced a strong finish with two birdies in his last three holes to pull ahead of the pack.
Both, who was tied second at the recent Macau Open, also started from the 10th tee and turned in three under. However, the 2003 Sanya Open champion stuttered with a bogey on the sixth and a double bogey at the next hole with some errors before recovering superbly with birdies over his closing two holes.
Asia's Visa Dynasty Cup team heroes Amandeep Johl of India, who was the runner-up here two years ago, and Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit were amongst those on 143 and they will head into the weekend rounds seven shots behind the leader. American Edward Loar, the reigning Korean Open champion, carded a 70 to also lie on 143.
The halfway cut was set at 149, with 70 players progressing into the weekend rounds.
The Maekyung Open is the 14th leg of this season's Asian Tour.
Leading second round scores
136 - Choi Sang-ho (KOR) 66-70
140 - Kim Kyung-tae [A] (KOR) 71-69
141 - Marcus Both (AUS) 71-70
142 - Kim Hae-dong [A] (KOR) 75-67, Alejandro Quiroz (MEX) 70-72, Sung Si-woo (KOR) 72-70, David Oh (USA) 71-71, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 71-71, Park Do-kyu (KOR) 72-70
143 - Chris Rodgers (ENG) 71-72, Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 72-71, Amandeep Johl (IND) 72-71, Mike Capone (USA) 76-67, Cho Chan-hee (KOR) 73-70, Edward Loar (USA) 73-70, Hur In-hoi [A] (KOR) 74-69, Park Boo-won (KOR) 71-72
144 - Kang Ji-man (KOR) 70-74, Kong John-joon (KOR) 73-71, Kim Hyung-tae (KOR) 70-74, Simon Yates (SCO) 75-69, Kim Dae-sub (KOR) 72-72
145 - Jason Dawes (AUS) 72-73, Scott Barr (AUS) 73-72, Choi Gwang-soo (KOR) 71-74, Lee Jung-hoon (KOR) 70-75, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 73-72, Richard Lee (NZL) 70-75
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