Jeju Island, South Korea, May 18 - Indonesian Rory Hie returned to form this week, after missing the cut last week in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in Seoul, by grabbing a share of the lead with Koreans Park Sang-hyun, who shot a seven-under par 65 on Friday, and first round leader Kim Bi-o after two rounds of the SK Telecom Open on Jeju Island.
The trio are eight-under with two-round totals of 136 on the 7,361-yard (6,735-metre) Pinx Golf Club course, the fourth stop on OneAsia's 2012 schedule and offering a purse of one billion Korean won (around $900,000).
They lie two ahead of Korean Kang Min-woong and New Zealander Mark Brown, and a further stroke in front of a handful of players including internationals Hu Mu from China and American Garrett Sapp.
Hie, Indonesia's best-ever player, has come close to winning on OneAsia but is still seeking his first significant professional victory. On the form that gave him a six under 66 on Friday, he could be close to ending the drought.
"I scrambled really well today -- both days actually. My wedges and chip shots kept me in the game," said Hie, who finished joint second in last year's Indonesian PGA Championship and sole second in the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open.
"I was hitting my iron shots really well and so giving myself a lot of birdie chances and was able to convert most of them."
Overnight leader Bi-o, winner of the GS Caltex Maekyung in Seoul last week and second on the OneAsia Order of Merit, fired a 68 to match his opening round and stay well in the hunt for back-to-back titles. The last time he shot above par was on the Nationwide Tour in the United States, a month and 11 rounds ago.
"Yesterday I had a few issues with my driver but putted really well," said Bi-o, who is also the reigning Nanshan China Masters champion on OneAsia.
Kim Bi-o.
"Today I had a lot of birdie chances but they just wouldn't drop."
The round of the day belonged to Park, however, who challenged Bi-o for 54 holes last week before finishing in fourth place. He attributed his flawless performance to working out and getting married.
"I am so much more at peace this year," he said.
Park heads into uncharted territory this weekend, however, having never made it to the fourth round of a tournament on Jeju Island. Last year's event was cut to three rounds because of fog.
"The weather here in Jeju is so unpredictable. I hope I play well tomorrow and will think about Sunday when it comes."
After Thursday's blustery winds played havoc with the scores, the field was greeted by near perfect weather on Friday and made the most of it by shooting low.
U.S. PGA stalwart K.J. Choi, arguably the best player Asia has ever produced, ensured he would remain the star attraction at the weekend by shooting one-under to leave him at level par and safe from a cut set at two over par.
"If I can do well with my putting I think I can do well these last two rounds," said Choi, who has won 19 times around the world including eight times in the U.S.
K.J. Choi said he was possibly trying too hard around the tricky course.
"I need to make smart plays. My mind and body are in constant battle... that is the case for all golfers."
Both Park and Choi are previous winners of the tournament, although not when it was part of OneAsia.
Leading Scores after round 2 (par 72):
136 - Rory HIE (INA) 70-66, KIM Bi-o (KOR) 68-68, PARK Sang-hyun (KOR) 71-65.
138 - KANG Min-woong (KOR) 71-67, Mark BROWN (NZL) 72-66.
139 - HU Mu (CHN) 70-69, MO Joong-kyung (KOR) 72-67, Garrett SAPP (USA) 70-69, KIM Si-woo (am, KOR) 69-70.
140 - PARK Jun-Won (KOR) 70-70, JOO Heung-chol (KOR) 72-68, NAM Young-woo (KOR) 70-70.
141 - Ashley HALL (AUS) 71-70, KIM Meen-Whee (KOR) 73-68, SUK Jong Yul (KOR) 71-70, Anthony BROWN (AUS) 73-68, Simon YATES (SCO) 71-70, LEE Dong-min (KOR) 76-65, YOON Jung-ho (KOR) 72-69, CHUNG Joon (KOR) 73-68.
142 - HUR In-hoi (KOR) 71-71, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 75-67, CHOI Ho-sung (KOR) 72-70, Matthew GUYATT (AUS) 70-72, LEE Tae-hee (KOR) 73-69, Daniel FOX (AUS) 73-69, LEE Jung-hwan (KOR) 70-72.
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