Martin Laird misses another cut on US Tour

Korean Yang surprise halfway leader

in Honda Classic in Florida

Korean Y E Yang, ranked No 460 in the world, is the shock leader of the star-studded field at the halfway stage of the Honda Classic in Florida.
Yang, a five-time tournament winner in Asia, had begun the second day at the par-70 PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens two shots behind the overnight leader, Australia's Robert Allenby.
After one birdie over his opening nine holes from the 10th tee, 37-year-old Yang holed three birdies in succession at the first, second and third before taking the lead with another at the short seventh.
Yang, in the last group of the day, completed his round in regulation to post a second-round 65 to lead by a stroke from Allenby, Will Mackenzie and Jeff Overton.
Four birdies in the first 10 holes of his second round had helped Overton into an early share of the lead. The American, without a US PGA Tour win in 85 events, had started the day a shot behind Allenby and he joined him and Mackenzie on six under with a bogey at the 13th.
Overton is one of 17 golfers among the leading 22 not to have picked up a winner's cheque on the US PGA Tour but the American believes that points to the strength in depth on tour.
"I think if you look at the PGA Tour, it just goes to show how much more competitive it's become over the last few years," Overton said. "Tiger (Woods) has raised the bar. It's unbelievable how good these guys are, it really is. It's unbelievable how many players have not won yet, but only one guy wins each week. You only have 35 to 40 weeks, whatever it is, and you get Tiger winning half of them, there's not a lot of room for other players. There's an unbelievable amount of talent out here, so it's pretty amazing that more guys haven't."
Alex Cejka, of Germany, was the leading European in the clubhouse, in a tie for seventh at three under, as was Australian Greg Chalmers, who shot 64 to equal the course record.
Northern Ireland teeanger Rory McIlroy continued his great start as a professional in the United States by posting a two-under 68 to lie in a large group of players at two under for the week. McIlroy, 19, made his pro debut in America at last week's WGC-Accenture Match Play in Tucson, Arizona, and reached the quarter-finals.
The world No2 Sergio Garcia and Sweden's Fredrik Jacobsen were in a group tied at one under. Ernie Els, though, had to scramble to make the cut. The South African was four over and in need of a birdie at the long 18th to reach the weekend, which he accomplished with a seven-foot putt. Not so fortunate, though, was the world No 9 Camilo Villegas whose second-round 74 left the Colombian at seven over, four shots adrift of the cut mark, while England's Justin Rose followed his first-round exit in Tucson last week by finishing 12 over for the tournament.
Scotland's Martin Laird also continued his miserable start to the 2009 season, missing the cut yet again. He has made only one this year.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 140 (2 x 70)
Y.E. Yang 68-65--133
Will MacKenzie 67-67--134
Robert Allenby 66-68--134
Jeff Overton 67-67--134
Ben Crane 70-65--135
David Mathis 68-68--136
Alex Cejka (Ger) 71-66--137
Greg Chalmers 73-64--137
John Rollins 69-68--137
Harrison Frazar 72-65--137
James Nitties 70-67--137
Jeff Klauk 69-68--137
Brett Quigley 71-67--138
Rory McIlroy (NIr) 70-68--138
Jason Dufner 72-66--138
Scott Piercy 72-66--138
D.A. Points 69-69--138
Erik Compton 69-69--138
Kevin Streelman 70-68--138
John Merrick 69-69--138
Stewart Cink 67-71--138
Fredrik Jacobson 72-67--139
Sergio Garcia 67-72--139
Steve Marino 69-70--139
Kent Jones 68-71--139
Ryan Palmer 73-66--139
Michael Allen 69-71--140
David Berganio, jun 71-69--140
Nicholas Thompson 69-71--140
Nathan Green 69-71--140
Brandt Jobe 70-70--140
Jeff Maggert 70-70--140
Rocco Mediate 73-67--140
Charlie Wi 67-73--140
Spencer Levin 72-68--140
Tim Herron 72-69--141
Mark Calcavecchia 74-67--141
Chris Stroud 69-72--141
J.J. Henry 71-70--141
Briny Baird 72-69--141
Matt Kuchar 71-70--141
Michael Letzig 70-71--141
Greg Owen (Eng) 72-69--141
Lucas Glover 71-70--141
Brian Gay 72-69--141
Carl Pettersson 72-69--141
Shaun Micheel 70-71--141
Darren Clarke (NIr) 70-71--141
Robert Garrigus 72-70--142
Nick O'Hern 73-69--142
John Senden 69-73--142
Brian Bateman 69-73--142
Johnson Wagner 71-71--142
Tadd Fujikawa 71-71--142
Brendon de Jonge 72-70--142
Tim Wilkinson 71-71--142
Todd Hamilton 72-70--142
Angel Cabrera 67-75--142
Davis Love III 73-69--142
Chris DiMarco 72-70--142
Gary Woodland 72-70--142
Derek Fathauer 73-69--142
Bart Bryant 70-73--143
Miguel A. Jimenez 70-73--143
Scott McCarron 72-71--143
Chris Riley 68-75--143
Boo Weekley 72-71--143
Steve Lowery 72-71--143
Woody Austin 70-73--143
Marc Leishman 73-70--143
Leif Olson 73-70--143
Casey Wittenberg 71-72--143
Brendon Todd 74-69--143
John Mallinger 69-74--143
George McNeill 71-72--143
Justin Leonard 70-73--143
Scott Verplank 73-70--143
Ernie Els 73-70--143
Brad Adamonis 70-73--143
MISSED THE CUT
Jonathan Kaye 74-70--144
Chris Couch 76-68--144
Stuart Appleby 74-70--144
Heath Slocum 69-75--144
Bill Lunde 72-72--144
Jason Caron 69-75--144
Billy Mayfair 69-75--144
Cliff Kresge 72-72--144
J.B. Holmes 72-72--144
Joe Ogilvie 71-73--144
Jerry Kelly 71-74--145
Jay Williamson 75-70--145
Paul Goydos 71-74--145
Andres Romero 73-72--145
Jimmy Walker 74-71--145
Tommy Armour III 73-72--145
John Huston 72-73--145
Olin Browne 73-72--145
Bob Estes 70-75--145
Marc Turnesa 74-71--145
Richard S. Johnson 73-72--145
Jonathan Byrd 71-74--145
James Oh 75-70--145
Brian Davis (Eng) 74-72--146
Brad Faxon 75-71--146
Steve Flesch 75-71--146
Ricky Barnes 76-70--146
Bill Haas 77-70--147
Robert Gamez 76-71--147
Peter Lonard 74-73--147
Chez Reavie 76-71--147
Ken Duke 74-73--147
Jarrod Lyle 75-72--147
Colt Knost 74-73--147
Scott Gutschewski 77-70--147
Eric Axley 73-74--147
Camilo Villegas 73-74--147
Alan Morin 74-73--147
Tom Pernice, jun 77-71--148
Brandt Snedeker 79-69--148
Jason Bohn 77-71--148
Tim Petrovic 77-71--148
Greg Kraft 74-74--148
Ryan Moore 77-71--148
Peter Tomasulo 76-72--148
Matt Bettencourt 74-74--148
Aron Price 73-75--148
Martin Laird 73-76--149
Jose Coceres 75-74--149
Troy Matteson 75-74--149
Shingo Katayama 71-79--150
Brian Vranesh 77-73--150
Ted Purdy 74-76--150
Mark Wilson 75-75--150
Rick Price 74-76--150
Billy Andrade 76-74--150
Vaughn Taylor 79-71--150
Sal Spallone 81-69--150
Webb Simpson 78-73--151
Justin Rose (Eng) 73-79--152
Matt Weibring 78-74--152
David Duval 82-75--157
Glen Day 78-WD
Mathias Gronberg 89-WD