PARK RIDES HIS LUCK TO LEAD AFTER TWO ROUNDS IN SOUTH KOREA

NEWS RELEASE 

SEOUL, South Korea: Park Sang-hyun slipped away from a closely bunched field today take a one shot lead after two rounds of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship at Namseoul Country Club in the South Korean capital.

The South Korean newlywed rode a touch of luck and a lot of class to record a second round three-under par 69 for a seven-under  total of 137 on the hilly 6,964yd course, the third stop on the 2012 OneAsia circuit.

A shot back were countrymen Kim Bi-o and Kang Kyung-nam, while three others -- including rookies Garrett Sapp from the U.S.A and Japan's Koichi Kitamura -- were another stroke adrift.

"I had a bit of luck and scrambled well," said Park, 29, who won the SK Telecom Open in 2009 before it became a OneAsia event, and also finished second on last year's Korean Golf Tour Order of Merit.

An example of that came on the par-five 16th where his second shot appeared destined for the woods before striking a branch and ricocheting back to the fairway. A birdie there, and one on the closing hole that was all class, helped him to an inward 32 following an outward 37.

In contrast, playing partner Kim Bi-o's luck deserted him on the 16th when his tee shot found trouble just a yard off the fairway and he made a double bogey. He returned to the fray, however, on the 18th when a treacherous downhill 30-foot (10 metre)  putt from off the green struck the flagstick and dropped into the cup for a birdie.

"I was hoping at best for a two putt but thought it was a three when I hit it," said Kim, who won on OneAsia last year when he secured a four-man play-off at the Nanshan China Masters. "It was fantastic to see it go in". 

Kang, one of eight players who shared the overnight lead and an eight-time winner on the Korean Tour, finished birdie-birdie to stay in the hunt.

But another of the overnight leaders, Australian rookie Kalem Richardson, was brought back to earth in his first tournament in the big league with six bogeys and a birdie that saw him record a 77. Still, he will be playing for money this weekend as the mammoth 159-man field was slashed back to 71 players with the cut set at plus two.

Another pair of OneAsia rookies took up the mantle, however, with Californian Sapp feeling right at home.

"Its kind of like a golf course I played a lot back in California, this course called Industry Hills which is very similar --hilly with greens like this -- so I'm not really surprised at the way I am playing, but obviously I'm very happy," he said.

Sapp finished sixth at OneAsia Q school in January, a shot ahead of Brazilian Lucas Lee who also shone on Friday and lies four shots off the lead.

"Growing up I heard all about the big events in Korea, and being of Korean descent I always wanted to come and play where my parents came from," said Lee.

"Everybody treats me nice, the course is in excellent condition and I look forward to a good weekend.

Defending champion Kim Kyung-Tae remains well in the picture after shooting par on Friday to lie five shots off the lead.

The round of the day belonged to New Zealander Gareth Paddison who shot a stunning 66 to improve on his opening 78 by a whopping 12 strokes and ensure he made the weekend.

Indefatigable Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, who won the Luang Prabang Laos Open last weekend, also recovered from a Thursday 76 with a Friday 68,  one of 23 non-Koreans to make the cut.

Shot of the day came from South Korean Park Sung-kug who recorded an albatross on the 515 yard (471 metre) par five ninth -- and he didn't even see it. Attempting to lay up after his 226 yard (207 metre) drive leaked into the rough, Park caught a flyer with a sweetly struck three-iron that bounced on the front of the green and rolled unerringly into the cup.

SCOREBOARD TO COME