March, 19 2005	Saturday	08 Safar 1426

SANYA (China), March 18: Mexico’s Alejandro Quiroz snatched a two-stroke halfway lead at the TCL Classic on Friday with Korea’s Choi Gwang-soo, Paul Casey of England and Scotsman Colin Montgomerie hot on his heels. Quiroz, playing in his first event in Asia since earning his tour card, maintained his irrepressible form at Yalong Bay Golf Club, shooting a second straight seven-under-par 65 to lead on 14-under-par 130.

Choi, a two-time winner in the region, produced a 67 to carry the Asian challenge while, Casey, one of the four overnight leaders, returned a 68. Montgomerie, who won the classic when it was last played in 2002, surged into contention with a brilliant 65 to join Choi and Casey on 12-under 132 in the one million dollar event jointly sanctioned by the Asian and European tours.

Taiwan duo Lin Keng-chi, the Asian number in 1995, and Lu Wen-teh were a further stroke back alongside Danish star Thomas Bjorn. Lu made light work of the easy scoring conditions, shooting seven birdies for a 64 while Lin enjoyed six birdies and an eagle against three bogeys for a 67.

With another low scoring day, the halfway cut was set at six-under-par 138 with 72 players progressing. It was the lowest halfway cut ever on the Asian Tour and matched the record on the European Tour.

A regular on the Canadian Tour and a three-time World Cupper for his country, Quiroz finished seventh in the Asian Tour school in January but frustratingly waited in vain as an alternate in earlier stops in Singapore and Malaysia. A staple diet of ginseng and Korea’s local delicacy “kim chee” has kept 45-year-old Choi in good shape as he got into the title mix.

A name that lurked menacingly on the leaderboard at the halfway stage was Montgomerie, who needs to finish second this week to qualify for The Players Championship in America and also for the Masters.

Leading second round scores:

130 - Alejandro Quiroz 65-65

132 - Choi Gwang-Soo 65-67, Paul Casey 64-68, Colin Montgomerie 67-65

133 - Johan Edfors 64-69, Lu Wen-Teh 69-64, Lin Keng-Chi 66-67, Ivo Giner 67-66, Thomas Bjvrn 66-67, Terry Pilkadaris 66-67

134 - Paul Mcginley 65-69, Michael Campbell 68-66, Edward Loar 69-65, Chawalit Plaphol 64-70, Lin Wen-Tang 70-64, Steven Jeppesen 68-66, Ross Bain 65-69, Emanuele Canonica 67-67, Mo Joong-Kyung 66-68

135 - Thaworn Wiratchant 68-67, Simon Yates 68-67, Simon Hurd 69-66, Stuart Little 71-64, Keith Horne 69-66, Raphakl Jacquelin 67-68, Chang Tse-Peng 68-67, Amandeep Johl 67-68, David Bransdon 70-65, Steven O’Hara 65-70, Pablo Del Olmo 68-67

136 - Gregory Bourdy 68-68, Hendrik Buhrmann 68-68, Nicolas Colsaerts 69-67, Fredrik Henge 68-68, Ted Oh 69-67, Corey Harris 65-71, Daniel Vancsik 68-68.