30 April 2005	Saturday	20 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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SHANGHAI, April 29: World number three Ernie Els fired a sizzling 10-under-par 62 to open a four-stroke lead after the second round of the Asian Open on Friday. The South African carded eight birdies and closed with a brilliant eagle for a halfway total of 15-under 129 following his lowest round of the year. New Zealand’s Eddie Lee, who missed the cut in all 10 tournaments he has played this year, was his closest challenger on 11-under after shooting a 66. France’s Raphael Jacquelin produced his second successive 67 to finish a further shot back.

Els is working on minor adjustments to his game after finishing a career-worst 47th at the US Masters but he looked back to his best in steamy Shanghai.

Els shared a seven-way tie for the lead after Thursday’s first round but he holed several long putts on Friday to open a gap on his rivals at Tomson Golf Club.

The highlight, however, was an eagle on the ninth where Els drilled a four-iron from the rough to within a whisker of the hole.

Lee’s 11-under total was all the more remarkable after failing to make the cut in seven Asian Tour events and three on the Australasian Tour this year.

Danish Ryder Cup player Thomas Bjorn had a 65 in hot and humid conditions early in the day for a share of fourth place on eight under.

Britain’s Simon Wakefield shot 69 to join Bjorn on 136 with Frenchmen Jean Van de Velde and Jean-Francois Lucquin, who had 69 and 66 respectively despite sporadic afternoon rain showers.

Six-time major winner Nick Faldo carded a 70 to go two-under, one ahead of Ryder Cup players Colin Montgomerie and defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Leading second round scores:

129 — Ernie Els (South Africa) 67, 62.

133 — Eddie Lee (New Zealand) 67, 66.

134 — Raphael Jacquelin (France) 67, 67.

136 — Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 71, 65; Jean-Francois Lucquin (France) 70, 66; Jean Van de Velde (France) 67, 69; Simon Wakefield (Britain) 67, 69.

137 — Peter Lawrie (Ireland) 67, 70; Jeev Milkha Singh (India) 69, 68.

138 — Patrik Sjoeland (Sweden) 70, 68; Richard Sterne (South Africa) 69, 69.

139 — Larry Austin (Australia) 67, 72; Christian Cevaer (France) 70, 69; Luke Donald (Britain) 70, 69; Soren Hansen (Denmark) 69, 70; Wade Ormsby (Australia) 72, 67; David Park (Britain) 70, 69.

140 — Ross Bain (Britain) 72, 68; Kenneth Ferrie (Britain) 72, 68; Anthony Kang (South Korea) 72, 68; Edward Loar (United States) 72, 68; Carlos Rodiles (Spain) 69, 71; Anthony Wall (Britain) 71, 69.

141 — David Bransdon (Australia) 71, 70; Peter Fowler (Australia) 71, 70; Peter Hedblom (Sweden) 72, 69; James Kingston (South Africa) 70, 71; Wen-Chong Liang (China) 70, 71; Stuart Little (Britain) 71, 70; Joong Kyung Mo (South Korea) 73, 68; Oliver Wilson (Britain) 71, 70; Lian-Wei Zhang (China) 70, 71.

142 — Marcus Both (Australia) 70, 72; Francois Delamontagne (France) 72, 70; Nick Faldo (Britain) 72, 70; Kim Felton (Australia) 70, 72; Alastair Forsyth (Britain) 72, 70; Mark Foster (Britain) 70, 72; Anders Hansen (Denmark) 70, 72; Peter Hanson (Sweden) 73, 69; Brad Kennedy (Australia) 71, 71; Jarrod Lyle (Australia) 72, 70; Costantino Rocca (Italy) 74, 68; Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 71, 71; Thammanoon Srirot (Thailand) 72, 70; Miles Tunnicliff (Britain) 72, 70.

143 — Adam Blyth (Australia) 74, 69; Nick Dougherty (Britain) 71, 72; Adam Groom (Australia) 72, 71; Chris Hanell (Sweden) 70, 73; James Heath (Britain) 73, 70 ; Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 70, 73; Jason Knutzon (United States) 71, 72; Ben Mason (Britain) 76, 67; Prom Meesawat (Thailand) 71, 72; Edward Michaels (United States) 74, 69; Colin Montgomerie (Britain) 73, 70; Thaworn Wiratchant (Thailand) 74, 69.

144 — Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 73, 71; Paul Casey (Britain) 73, 71; Jason Dawes (Australia) 73, 71; Simon Dyson (Britain) 70, 74; Rahil Gangjee (India) 75, 69; Philip Golding (Britain) 74, 70; Gregory Hanrahan (United States) 72, 72; Jose Manuel Lara (Spain) 73, 71; Sung-Man Lee (South Korea) 70, 74; Wen-Tang Lin (Taiwan) 72, 72; Mardan Mamat (Singapore) 73, 71; Ted Oh (South Korea) 71 ,73; Peter O’Malley (Australia) 70, 74; Terry Price (Australia) 74, 70; Jyoti Randhawa (India) 70, 74; Bryan Saltus (United States) 73, 71; Niki Zitny (Austria) 75, 69.

DiMarco back on top

NEW ORLEANS: Chris DiMarco fired a flawless seven-under 65 to share the first round lead with India’s Arjun Atwal at the $5.5 million Zurich Classic on Thursday, having put the disappointment of the U.S. Masters behind him.

Back in action for the first time since his heartbreaking playoff loss to Tiger Woods at Augusta two weeks ago, a determined DiMarco was quickly back in top form carding five birdies and an eagle on the par-five seventh at the TPC of Louisiana.—Agencies