Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen held a two-shot lead over the chasing pack after the second round of the Ballantine’s Championship yesterday as wind and rain lashed the mountainside course.
Derksen’s 69 gave him a nine-under total of 135, two strokes clear of Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (71) and South Korea’s Kang Wook-soon (69).
A shot further back are joint overnight leader Mark Brown, who shot a 73, Spain’s Pablo Martin (69) and Italy’s Alessandro Tadini (71).
Last week’s Volvo China Open runner-up Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano was among a group on five-under after posting a 74.
Brown briefly threatened to pull clear, but a disastrous run of four bogeys on his closing five holes in hammering rain cost the New Zealander.
Among the big names, Ernie Els is two-under for the tournament after a 74. Former Masters winner Fred Couples and Lee Westwood also made the cut. Defending champion Graeme McDowell crashed out.
Taiwan’s Lin Wen-hong was in a tie for seventh on five-under, Lin Wen-tang was even-par and compatriot Lu Wei-chih finished on one-over.
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