JAKARTA, March 29 - Unheralded Korean Song Young-han kept his cool in sweltering heat with a six-under-par 66 on Friday to grab the lead after two rounds of the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia PGA Championship.
Song, 22, had a share of the overnight lead after an opening round 65, but moved to 13 under with a one stroke advantage over Japan's Yoshinori Fujimoto (66), Toshinori Muto (65) and Australian Aaron Townsend, who posted a brilliant 63.
"I don't know how I feel as I have never been in this position before," said Song, who squeezed into the field of the U.S. $1 million tournament by virtue of finishing 50th on the OneAsia Order of Merit last year and grabbing the last available tour card.
"I'm happy to be in this position and I really hope I can keep it up over the weekend.. But it is so hot out there! I haven't played in conditions like this before. Unbelievable."
The Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia PGA Championship is sanctioned by both OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, bringing together one of the most powerful Asia-Pacific fields ever assembled. Earnings count towards both money lists, and a win at Emeralda Golf Club gives the champion status on both tours.
The baby-faced Song finished runner-up at OneAsia's Q-School in 2012 and his best result since turning professional just before then has been 18th on a Korean domestic tour event.
He could have had an even tidier advantage on Friday had he not three-putted the last for a bogey, but he leads a classy field including joint overnight leader Shingo Katayama, who is three shots off the pace after a second-round 69.
"Not bad for today’s round," said Katayama, winner of an astonishing 26 titles on the Japan tour with earnings of over 1.5 billion yen (U.S.$ 16 million). "It is very difficult to play six under every day, so I’m satisfied for today’s round -- and we still have two more days."
Townsend finished with three birdies in-a-row -- including a wickedly curling 40-footer on the last -- but feels he may have to shoot even more birdies over the weekend.
"Compared to last year it's playing a lot easier, so I think I am going to have to be aggressive tomorrow. Hopefully more of the same," he said.
"I'm ecstatic. To be honest I generally haven't played very well in Southeast Asia in the past, so to shoot that today feels really good. My ball striking has been very good, and I've just been putting them close and giving myself the birdie opportunities. That last putt was a real bonus though."
Also lurking at 10 under is defending champion Andre Stolz, while fellow OneAsia Order of Merit winners Scott Strange (67) and Liang Wenchong (69) are a shot further back.
India's Jeev Milkha Singh (70), making his debut in a OneAsia event, is four under, while England's Simon Dyson (70), a winner on this course in 2006, a shot better off.
Home favorite Rory Hie missed the cut set at three under after shooting level par for a second day. He's joined by all other local players except Andik Mauludin, who added a round of 71 to a 70 from yesterday, and will be the only Indonesian playing during the weekend.
Scores after round two of the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia PGA Championship being played at the par 72, 6,581-metre (7,198-yard) Emeralda Golf Club course:
131 - SONG Young-han (KOR) 65-66
132 - Yoshinori FUJIMOTO (JPN) 66-66, Toshinori MUTO (JPN) 67-65, Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS) 69-63
134 - Kaname YOKOO (JPN) 68-66, Andre STOLZ (AUS) 67-67, Shingo KATAYAMA (JPN) 65-69, Yusaku MIYAZATO (JPN) 68-66, Hideto TANIHARA (JPN) 66-68
135 - Scott STRANGE (AUS) 68-67, Yuta IKEDA (JPN) 67-68, LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 66-69, Katsumasa MIYAMOTO (JPN) 65-70
Selected:
141 - Andik MAULUDIN (INA) 70-71
Cut
143 - Indra HERMAWAN (INA) 74-69, Rinaldi ADIYANDONO (INA) 71-72
144 - Rory HIE (INA) 72-72, Jamel ONDO (INA) 74-70, Maan NASIM (INA) 72-72, Benny KASIADI (INA) 74-70
145 - Johannes DERMAWAN (INA) 71-74, Ian ANDREW (INA) 74-71
147 - Hendry NASIM (INA) 74-73, George GANDRANATA (INA) 73-74
148 - Ramadhan ALWIE (INA) 73-75
150 - Denny A. WIDJADYA (INA) 74-76
151 - Junaidi IBRAHIM (INA) 80-71
152 - ILYASSYAK (INA) 74-78
153 - I Ketut SUGIARTA (INA) 78-75
154 - Roby SUGARA (INA) 74-80, Sandro BERNAD (INA) 74-80
156 - Dede IDRIS (INA) 80-76, Ade SEBUL (INA) 78-78
159 - Heri KL (INA) 77-82
160 - Andi YATMO (INA) 81-79, HARDJITO (INA) 83-77
163 - RUDIANTO (INA) 78-85
166 - JOKO (INA) 86-80
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