EUROPEAN TOUR PROS LEAD ASIA IN ROYAL TROPHY

Holders Europe dominated Asia in the opening foursomes of the Royal Trophy in Brunei and ended the day with a 3 1/2-1/2 lead.
Stars of the show were Henrik Stenson and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano who were eight under par in beating Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa and South Korean Bae Sang-moon by 5 and 4.
Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari won the top game against China's Ashun Wu and Japan's Yoshinori Fujimoto 2 and 1.
Then Marcel Siem and Nicolas Colsaerts defeated Indian Jeev Milkha Singh and Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat on the final green.
A whitewash was on the cards until playing-captain Jose Maria Olazabal and fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez lost the final hole to Koreans Y E Yang and K T Kim and had to settle for a half.
The match continues with four four-balls on Saturday and eight singles on Sunday.

TOM LEHMAN IS CHAMPIONS' TOUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

TOM LEHMAN ... won close on $2million in 2012 

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE US CHAMPIONS TOUR
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida -- The Champions Tour has announced Tom Lehman as Champions Tour Player of the Year. 
Lehman, from Scottsdale, Arizona, receives the Jack Nicklaus Award after recording two victories this year; the Regions Tradition, a major on the Champions Tour, and the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. 
Lehman captured the Charles Schwab Cup for the second consecutive year, becoming the first player in the 12-year history of the Cup to achieve back-to-back titles.
With the announcement, Lehman becomes the fifth player to earn consecutive Player of the Year awards on the Champions Tour, joining Jim Colbert (1995, 1996), Hale Irwin (1997, 1998), Jay Haas (2006, 2007) and Bernhard Langer (2008, 2009, 2010).Lehman's $1,982,575 in official earnings secured the No. 2 position on the final money list behind Bernhard Langer, who was the only player to surpass $2 million in official earnings in 2012.
"When you have your peers voting on this award and they select you, it's a great honor and it has very significant meaning and I certainly appreciate that," said Lehman, who won the vote which included six other nominees, Michael Allen, Roger Chapman, Fred Couples, Fred Funk, Bernhard Langer and Willie Wood. 
"When I look at the year that Bernhard had, and what Roger Chapman accomplished, and all the other guys who played well throughout the year, I didn't feel like anyone was a lock for Player of the Year.
"I felt like Bernhard had the inside track so I was a bit surprised. To win two awards in a row is very special. It's nice to feel like I maintained a high level of play beyond just one season."

Bernhard Langer won Arnold Palmer Award as the Champions Tour's leading money winner for a record fourth time. He also won the award in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Langer, who lives at Boca Raton, Florida, was the only senior player to surpass $2 million during the season, earning $2,140,296 in 20 starts. He posted 17 top-10 finishes, including victories at the 3M Championship and the SAS Championship.Kirk Tripless was named the Champions Tour Rookie of the Year. Triplett, a Scottsdale, Ariz. resident who turned 50 on March 29,Tour, made 18 starts, and finished 19th on the money list with $833,717.
Fred Couples claimed the Byron Nelson Award as the Champions Tour scoring leader. With a 68.52 scoring average for the year, Couples, a Seattle, Washington native, won twice from just 11 starts and never finished worse than 12th.

OAKLEY SUE RORY McILROY AND NIKE FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT

FROM THE ESPN.COM WEBSITE Apparel-maker Oakley has sued golfer Rory McIlroy and Nike, saying the world's top-ranked golfer and Nike breached his existing contract with Oakley when he recently signed a new deal with Nike.
According to a lawsuit filed this week in a federal court in Santa Ana, California, Oakley tried to use its use its right of first refusal to match the Nike offer, but McIlroy and his agent, Conor Ridge, ignored their counter-offer, thereby breaching the Oakley-McIroy contract.
Oakley claims in its lawsuit that its contractual rights for McIlroy's endorsements of its eyewear and performance apparel would be 30 percent of the Nike package. 
If the reports in European golf publications of a $200 million deal for McIlroy with Nike are accurate, then Oakley offered about $60 million to continue its deal with McIlroy. No one involved in the dispute will confirm the magnitude of the Nike offer, and it is described in the court papers only as an offer of "$_M."
According to Oakley, the damage that has resulted from McIlroy's refusal to renew with Oakley is "irreparable" and entitles Oakley to an injunction that would stop Nike and McIlroy from concluding or implementing their contract. 
Oakley is also claiming money damages but does not specify any amount and asserts that it has spent $300,000 on a photo shoot for the products McIlroy would have endorsed in 2013.
In addition to Footjoy and Titleist, McIlroy had a deal with Oakley for eyewear and performance apparel. It includes what is known as a "right of first refusal," a contract clause that allowed Oakley to match any offer that included payments to McIlroy for glasses and clothing. If Oakley wanted to match what Nike offered, its deal would continue into 2013 instead of expiring on Dec. 31.
The key to any resolution of the dispute is in a string emails between Oakley and agent Ridge that began back in September. Late on a Saturday evening (Sept. 29) as negotiations for a renewal of the Oakley deal seemed to be falling apart, a sports marketing executive at Oakley named Pat McIlvain sent an email to agent Ridge that said, "Understood. We are out of the mix. No contract for 2013. Pat Mac."
The late-night "out of the mix" e-mail is clearly the basis for a statement on Friday from McIlroy's management company in Dublin to ESPN.com asserting that "McIlroy has fulfilled all of his obligations to Oakely,and the claims in the lawsuit are entirely baseless."
McIlroy and Nike will assert in court that McIlvain's email was a waiver of Oakley's contractual rights to renew with McIlroy. But McIroy's team of agents and lawyers, after the supposed waiver, then continued to bargain with Oakley and gave Oakley the dollar amounts that Oakley would be required to match. It was not until Oct. 23 that McIlroy's attorney finally told Oakley that he "would not be continuing his relationship with Oakley beyond Dec. 31" and that they "would not engage in any further correspondence on the matter of the right of first refusal."
As McIlroy ascended to the world's top ranking, his endorsement deals began to expire giving him a chance to put together the most lucrative package in the history of the sport.
With Titleist and Footjoy, McIlroy's previous sponsors fading out of the picture, Nike entered with an offer for head-to-toe coverage that is reported to be worth more than $200 million. It was to include everything -- equipment, footwear, performance apparel, and what sports marketing folks like to call the "front of the hat."

TOP US COLLEGE GOLFER TURNING PROFESSIONAL

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
Texas University sophomore (second-year) student Jordan Spieth has announced that he will forego the remainder of his college eligibility and turn professional. 
Spieth, 19, was Big 12 Player of the Year and a First-Team All-American in his first year with the Longhorns, and helped guide the team to a national title.
Spieth, pictured above in July 2008 when he played in the R and A Junior Open at Hesketh - but didn't win,  failed to advance out of the second stage of US PGA Tour Q-School in November.
“The decision to turn pro was a difficult one, but I’m looking forward to the challenge of competing at the highest level and accomplishing the many goals I’ve set for myself on and off the course,” Spieth said. 
“I owe everything I’ve achieved thus far to the support of my family, friends, team-mates, and The University of Texas. While I’m proud of what my teammates and I have accomplished, I couldn’t be more excited to fulfil my lifelong dream of becoming a professional golfer.”
Spieth already has made the cut in six of the eight US PGA Tour events in which he has played. His finishes include a T-21 and low amateur honours at this year’s U.S. Open, as well as being in contention to win at the 2010 Byron Nelson Championship while only 16 years old.
Spieth also was a member of the beatem 2011 U.S. Walker Cup team at Royal Aberdeen GC, where he was undefeated and held the R and A’s No. 1 World Amateur ranking this year.
“Jordan Spieth is a remarkable young man,” said Texas head coach John Fields. 
“Though he is leaving early, he has left a positive, indelible mark on The University of Texas and our program. 
"Jordan is first class - first class as a student, first class as a teammate. We will certainly miss him, but our future remains bright, and like him, this is a new beginning for all of us.”

Information from Texas Athletics used in this report

WEST TEXAS PRO SHOT DEAD BY BURGLAR

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
A West Texas PGA professional has been shot and killed after he interrupted a burglary while visiting family in Roswell, New Mexico.
Saul Sanchez, 39, the head professional at Yoakum County Golf Club in Denver City, Texas, had returned to Roswell for his sister's funeral and was staying with a friend.
According to local media reports. Sanchez, who was with his wife and two of his three daughters, surprised the burglar, who, authorities said, shot Sanchez in front of his family and fled. The suspect remains at large.
"He worked really, really hard to become a PGA member, and I know he was so excited when that came true for him," said Carlton Blewett, Spring River's director of golf.
A memorial service is scheduled for 1 pm on Monday at the Roswell Convention and Civic Centre.

GEORGE BRUCE'S INDIAN SUMMER A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE

Westhill Golf Club professional George Bruce (centre, white shirt) at Hyderabad Golf Club, India with the the children after a coaching class.

Adults in the picture are:

Back row: Bob Gordon (hat and white socks), Sanjay Singh (teaching pro at Hyderabad), George Bruce 

and Sandy Rennie (blue shirt).

Front row Pushp Vaid (Westhill GC club captain).

 

George Bruce writes:

Pushp’s ex colleague in the Indian RAF, Capt B L K Reddy, is the honorary secretary at Hyderabad Golf Club.

During a telephone conversation to Captain Reddy, Pushp mentioned that he was a qualified level one coach. 

Capt Reddy asked him to come out to India to teach the Hyderabid kids but Pushp felt he didn’t have enough experience and that's when I got invited over.

 ====

Robert Gordon and Sandy Rennie are Westhill GC members and clubgolf junior coaches.

 

George Bruce, pictured right, is coming up to the end of his 15th year as professional at Westhill Golf Club.

"For the first time in my golfing life, I was playing and teaching in shorts in late November ... but it was quite warm at Hyderabad," said George.

"We were over in India for a couple of weeks and it was a fantastic experience. We gave golf lessons not only to the Hyderabad GC juniors but also to local youngsters.

"All in all, it was a really worthwhile trip."

 

JACK NICKLAUS GOLF LEARNING LEAGUES INITIATIVE IN AMERICA

NEWS RELEASE
In an effort to bring golf into the mainstream of American youth sports, golf legend Jack Nicklaus has embarked on an initiative to grow the game with the assistance of SNAG® Golf (Starting New at Golf) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The new Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, powered by SNAG, will be introduced at select local park and recreation facilities in the States in 2013, and for the first time golf will be made available to youngsters as a team sport. 

The innovative Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, combined with SNAG’s well-established, first-touch development program, will provide a golf learning experience for children, ages 5 through 12, in a safe, affordable and accessible environment.
Nicklaus has been an important advocate for growing the game and he envisions that with SNAG’s programming and modified equipment, and the active participation of local park and recreation agencies through the National Recreation and Park Association, golf at last will have a competitive footing with such team sports as soccer, basketball and football.
“There are so many sports—team sports—played in the park system today,” Nicklaus said. “Today, kids start playing athletics when they are as young as 4 or 5 years old, and by the time they are just 7, 8 or 9 years old, many of them have picked the two or three sports that they might want to play in the different seasons. 
"If golf is not part of the sports introduced and available to them at their local park and recreation facilities, they will play other sports and not golf. So we need to get golf in their local parks and have them play our sport, and I think the team concept is the way to do it.
“Children seem to embrace the team concept of looking to and relying on other children, so it is not all on their shoulders. A lot of kids shy away from golf because of that. 
"When I picked up the game at age 10, one of the beauties of the sport was that I could do it by myself. I didn’t need someone to throw a ball to me or catch a ball or defend me. I could be as good as the time and effort that I wanted to put into it. 
"But at the very young age many children are introduced to sports, many don’t want so much placed on their shoulders. 
"The idea is to bring kids into the game, keep them into the game, have them learn, let them have fun, have fun with their friends, and then they can advance to the next level where they get on a golf course and develop.”
Some 300 Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues are planned for spring 2013 and an estimated 400 are projected to launch in 2014.
Terry Anton, founder and CEO of SNAG Golf, is enthusiastic about the leadership position of Jack Nicklaus in the establishment of the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues.
“Jack Nicklaus’ vision to bring golf to the same venues where other organized sports thrive will make it easier to develop our future golfers,” Anton said. “These leagues will introduce millions of new players to the sport and will help nurture children developing their motor skills and do it in a fun way. SNAG is honored to have been selected to participate with history’s greatest golfer and the NRPA in the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues. 
"Our task is to make his vision a reality by implementing SNAG’s programming in the parks and directing this feeder system into all on-course golf programs. 
"This is an important stepping stone for the industry to capture interest in golf early so that youngsters will transition with confidence to play with actual golf equipment on a traditional course. The more fun we make golf for children, the more chance they have to play the game for a lifetime.”
The use of parent-coaches and turning soccer and other playing fields into venues for this golf competition will be pivotal to the implementation of the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, through the auspices of the National Recreation and Park Association.
“Local parks and recreation are the go-to places where children can learn to play sports and develop a connection to healthy activities,” says Barbara Tulipane, president and CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association. 
“We are so proud to be bringing the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues and SNAG to park and recreation agencies across the country, because not only is it a great program but it means more children will have the chance to participate in the sport of golf in a fun and unique way and develop a connection to a healthy activity that will last them a lifetime.”
The NRPA will administer grants to park and recreation facilities across the U.S. to underwrite the costs associated with providing Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues equipment, coaching and programming.
For information on G.O.L.F. visit www.snaggolf.com/jnll.html.)
The Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues will be separated by age groups: 5- and 6-year-olds; 7-8; 9-10; and 11-12. Each league will have a set number of children per team and incorporate a specialized, age-appropriate format and learning curriculum.
The Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues ultimately will be a global philanthropic endeavour to bring the sport to countries that are embracing the game as part of the Olympic movement. 
For further information about the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, powered by SNAG, call (866) 946-5092 or e-mail jnll@snaggolf.com. For information about the grant program for park and recreation agencies visit www.nrpa.org/snag.

SCHWARTZEL'S 64 PUTS HIM LEVEL IN LEAD WITH BOURDY IN SOUTH AFRICA

 FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
South Africa Charl Schwartzel followed his emphatic 11 shot victory in Thailand last week with another imperious display to claim a share of the halfway lead at the Alfred Dunhill Championship then warned the rest of the field; there is more to come.
Having collected his first title since becoming a Major Champion at the 2011 Masters Tournament on Sunday with a resounding wire-to-wire success, Schwartzel’s best-of-the-week 64 at Leopard Creek saw him join France’s overnight leader Grégory Bourdy at the top of the leaderboard on 13 under par.
“All in all a very good round and I've put myself in a very good position to compete,” said the 28 year old. “I was playing good golf, hitting good iron shots, hitting it to the rights places and I was converting the putts
“My game seems to improve over the round. Over the last few holes there were signs of better striking. Hopefully if I can take that and continue with it tomorrow then it will get better as the week goes on.
“It doesn't involve scoring - it just makes me a lot more confident walking the course and knowing where I'm going to hit it. I'm more precise when I strike the ball over certain distances. I'm still scoring, and there's a difference between hitting the ball well and scoring.
“When you're hitting it well you feel in control. The way I'm hitting it now it feels like I've got to dig a lot deeper to grind a score out. I just hope to start striking it better and feel a bit more at ease when I'm out there.
“Last week was terrible; I didn't hit it well at all, but the golf course just suited me. It wasn't nearly as good as it was in Dubai, at the SA Open, even at the Nedbank.
“With the win, you do build up a bit of confidence, but I don't want to expect anything. Expectation is not a good thing - I just play. It was a nice win last week, just to break the ice after winning The Masters. It's such a big thing, and everyone always talks about 'when are you going to win again?'
“Winning is not as easy as everyone thinks it is. You can play well sometimes and not win. For me breaking the ice was the best part of it - we've got a win again and I could put the whole Masters thing behind us and carry on. 
"It's gone almost two years now, so let's talk about something new now, make some new memories.”
While Schwartzel may not feel on top of his game, his recent results suggest otherwise - he has finished fifth, third, second and first in his last four starts.
The 28 year old South African has yet to drop a stroke and picked up an eagle and six birdies on a course where he captured his first European Tour title in 2005 and has previously had four runner-up finishes.
Bourdy was not to be outdone, however, and by adding a 65 to his pacesetting opening 66 kept alive his hopes of a fourth European Tour title.
Highlight of his round was pitching in for an eagle two at the 319 yard sixth.
The 30 year old former Scottish youths champion had just holed from 25 feet on the previous green and he sank another at the eighth as he and Schwartzel moved clear of the chasing pack.
“I'm feeling great and I played two good rounds,” said Bourdy. “I had many birdie opportunities again today, especially on the first holes.
“My game was again solid, and I made just one bogey today, so it was a great round again.
“It's going to be an exciting weekend. Charl is a great player, one of the best in the world. In South Africa it's always nice to play with some of the top players in the world on Saturday and Sunday. I like these guys, so it should be a great time.
“It's tough all week - you have to do the job over four rounds and that is difficult. When you play well you have to see how you are on Sunday. Tomorrow I will try to do the same - shot by shot, play my game. I think the top players will do the same.”
Schwartzel’s fellow South African Darren Fichardt was four strokes back in third place following a 68, with last week’s runner-up Steve Webster and another of the home contingent in Louis de Jager going best of the afternoon starters to reach eight under.

HALFWAY LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
131 Gregory Bourdy (France) 66 65, Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 67 64
135 Darren Fichardt (South Africa) 67 68
136 Steve Webster (England) 67 69,Louis De Jager (South Africa) 67 69
137 Robert Rock (England) 69 68, Max Kieffer (Germany) 68 69.

SCOTS' SCORES
138 Scott Jamieson 70 68 (T8)
141 David Drysdale 69 72 (T30)
142 George Murray 73 69 (T39)
143 Peter Whiteford 75 68 (T52).
144 Marc Warren 73 71 (T60)

MISSED THE CUT (144 and better qualified)
146 Callum Macaulay 74 72, Craig Lee 71 75 (T84)
148 Scott Hendry 80 68 (T101).
150 Alan McLean 72 78 (T120)          

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SCOTS TRIO THROUGH TO ALPS TOUR Q FINAL

Three Scots - Ross Cameron, John James Henry and amateur Christopher Dougill - will play in next week's Alps Tour Final Qualifying School at La Cala Golf Resort, Marbella after coming through the Stage 1 eliminator over 36 holes at the same venue today (Friday). But Malcolm Isaacs (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) failed to qualify. All four played at the America course from where the leading 37 players qualified. Cameron, from Ellon, finished joint seventh on level par 144 with rounds of 71 and 73. Henry from Clydebank and District, finished joint 11th on 146 with scores of 72 and 74. Dougill had rounds of 76 and 71 for 147 and joint 17th place. Isaacs had two poor rounds - 76-78 for 154 - and finished in joint 50th place.

GARCIA CHARGING AT WEATHER-HIT JOHOR OPEN

  NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR

Nusajaya, Johor, Malaysia: World number 20 Sergio Garcia of Spain reproduced his Ryder Cup winning form when he charged up the leaderboard to hold the second round lead at nine-under through 12 holes at the weather-interrupted US$2 million Iskandar Johor Open on Friday.

Inclement weather caused almost three hours of play to be lost due to two suspensions and with darkness falling on the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club, play was eventually suspended, leaving 117 players to return at 7.30am on Saturday morning to resume their round.

Opening round leader David Lipsky of the United States, who has yet to start his second round, shared the lead with Garcia after signing for a 63 in the morning.

Three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand is six-under through 13 holes and is among the five players who are three shots back of Garcia and Lipsky at the Asian Tour season-ending event.

Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing returned with a four-under-par 68 and is among the only three players who managed to complete their round at the Iskandar Johor Open.

Garcia, who played a starring role in the Ryder Cup for Europe in September, could only play three holes on the opening day. The Spaniard then returned with a vengeance by snaring 10 birdies against one bogey over 33 holes. 

“It was good. It has been a long day but it has been quite positive. I just hope I can keep going in the right direction and see what happens. Hopefully we will get lucky and can get all four rounds in,” said the week’s highest ranked player.

The weather disruptions did little to dampen the Spaniard’s charge as he was already bracing himself for such delays in his maiden appearance in Malaysia.

“I did well before and after the breaks so overall it is what it is. You got to realize that the weather is like this and you got to deal with it,” said Garcia.

Lipsky, who returned to complete two holes, did not get to start his round but will head into the weekend, perched atop the leaderboard with Garcia

“It wasn’t too hard as I came back with an easy two-foot birdie putt and pretty simple par-five to finish off my round. Hopefully the weather stays clear and we can get more golf in,” said Lipsky, who marked his bogey-free card with seven birdies and one eagle.

Meanwhile Thongchai will be hoping to shake off the effects of fatigue when he resumes his title charge on Saturday.

“I’m happy with the way I played but I felt tired because of the suspensions. It was quite difficult to play on the course because the fairways are a bit wet. The greens are okay. I played very solid. I think I played about 30 holes. I woke up at 5.15am and it will be the same tomorrow,” said Thongchai.

Lam, who is battling to save his Tour card for next season after lying in 76^th place on the Order of Merit, was visibly relieved when he managed to return to the clubhouse under fading light.

“I’m more than happy to be able to finish the round as the group was trying to rush through the last few holes. I’m going to have an extra six hours of sleep which is good. The course is a little wet and the greens are still running nicely,” said Lam.

“My scores over the last two days have definitely eased some pressure for me as I’ve made the cut and I can take it easy tonight,” added the Singaporean.

With the weather conditions continuing to create delays, tournament draw card Ernie Els of South Africa, preferred to look on the lighter side of things.

“I pray to God that we should have more of this kind of weather as I’m from South Africa and we’ve a dry climate. I like this kind of weather especially when I’m sleeping but not when I’m playing golf!” laughed Els, who is four-under through 12 holes.

Meanwhile Malaysia’s amateur Gavin Kyle Green, who was paired with Els and Garcia, is five–under through 12 holes.

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A FEW DOLLARS MORE FOR JIMMY GUNN

Despite being below his best, Jimmy Gunn from Dornoch earned $860 for a joint 29th place finish in this week's All-American Professional Golf Tour event at the Legacy Golf Resort near Phoenix, Arizona. Gunn, PICTURED BY ROBIN WILSON, had rounds of 69, 69 and 71 for a four-under-par total of 209 - 11 strokes behind the winner of the $11,000 first prize, Tyler Weworski from California. He shot 65-67-66 for 15-under 198 and a one-shot win. Cory Renfrew, the American who had a 59 in his opening round, tied for second place with Jake Younan-Wise on 199. It was Gunn's poorest performance of the four events he has played in the tour's winter schedule. He finished fourth, fifth and sixth in the previous three. His earnings from the four outings amounts to $9,690.

ZHANG, POPOVIC SHARE LEAD IN AUSSIE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALASIA WEBSITE

Steve Orme reports from Coolum

Omnisport

China's Zhang Xin Jung has fired a sizzling five-under 67 in windy afternoon conditions to share the second-round lead with Victorian Daniel Popovic at the Australian PGA Championship.
Zhang scorched around the Palmer Coolum Resort layout with seven birdies in his first 15 holes to briefly hold the outright lead, before bogeys at the 16th and 18th saw him drop back to 10 under for the tournament.
"I've been surprised by my putting, I needed just 22 putts which is my best-ever putting round, I really like the greens here," Zhang said through an interpreter after the round.
"With my approach shots I'm just trying to visualise them, to think about the shot and hit it, so far it's working."
Popovic backed up his opening 64 with a solid two-under-par 70 to sit alongside Zhang, two clear of 2008 champion Geoff Ogilvy (69) and Matt Griffin (67).
The unflappable 26-year-old piled on four birdies in his opening 10 holes to lead by as many as five shots before a costly double-bogey at the par-five 15th halted his charge.
He held his nerve with three consecutive pars to hold the outright clubhouse lead before Zhang joined him late in the day.
"I'm stoked, I can't get the smile off of my face actually," Popovic enthused.
"It's an unbelievable experience, I can't even explain it, I'm lost for words explaining it."
After starting at the 10th tee, 2006 US Open champion Ogilvy's round featured six birdies but three bogeys cost him the halfway lead.
"I played quite nicely this morning, I felt like I was a bit loose on the front nine and let a few opportunities go away but I played well on my last nine holes," Ogilvy said.
"I'm still in the tournament and that's all you can really ask."
Griffin started brilliantly with birdies at three of his first four holes and overcame two bogeys with four further birdies to move within striking distance of the leaders.
Tasmanian Mathew Goggin (66), Sunshine Coast local Steven Bowditch (66) and Queenslander Brad Kennedy (68) share fourth spot at minus seven.
Australian Open winner Peter Senior carded a two-under 70 to sit four shots back with Rod Pampling who signed for a 67.
Northern Irishman Darren Clarke, who played alongside Ogilvy, sits a further shot back after a three-under 69, one clear of his other playing partner Robert Allenby, who made his move with a 67.
Greg Chalmers will continue his title defence on the weekend after carding a 69 to get to minus three for the championship.
South Africa's Rory Sabbatini will also feature in the final two rounds after a gutsy second-round 68 to finish at even, while Stuart Appleby (75) overcame a slow start to birdie his final three holes to make the cut on the number at plus one.
Victorian Kieran Pratt (71) produced the shot of the day at the par-five 5th, holing his second for a spectacular albatross, but the Victorian won't be around on the weekend after finishing at plus three.
Zhang scorched around the Palmer Coolum Resort layout with seven birdies in his first 15 holes to briefly hold the outright lead, before bogeys at the 16th and 18th saw him drop back to 10 under for the tournament.
"I've been surprised by my putting, I needed just 22 putts which is my best-ever putting round, I really like the greens here," Zhang said through an interpreter after the round.
"With my approach shots I'm just trying to visualise them, to think about the shot and hit it, so far it's working."
Popovic backed up his opening 64 with a solid two-under-par 70 to sit alongside Zhang, two clear of 2008 champion Geoff Ogilvy (69) and Matt Griffin (67).
The unflappable 26-year-old piled on four birdies in his opening 10 holes to lead by as many as five shots before a costly double-bogey at the par-five 15th halted his charge.
He held his nerve with three consecutive pars to hold the outright clubhouse lead before Zhang joined him late in the day.
"I'm stoked, I can't get the smile off of my face actually," Popovic enthused.
"It's an unbelievable experience, I can't even explain it, I'm lost for words explaining it."
After starting at the 10th tee, 2006 US Open champion Ogilvy's round featured six birdies but three bogeys cost him the halfway lead.
"I played quite nicely this morning, I felt like I was a bit loose on the front nine and let a few opportunities go away but I played well on my last nine holes," Ogilvy said.
"I'm still in the tournament and that's all you can really ask."
Griffin started brilliantly with birdies at three of his first four holes and overcame two bogeys with four further birdies to move within striking distance of the leaders.
Tasmanian Mathew Goggin (66), Sunshine Coast local Steven Bowditch (66) and Queenslander Brad Kennedy (68) share fourth spot at minus seven.
Australian Open winner Peter Senior carded a two-under 70 to sit four shots back with Rod Pampling who signed for a 67.
Northern Irishman Darren Clarke, who played alongside Ogilvy, sits a further shot back after a three-under 69, one clear of his other playing partner Robert Allenby, who made his move with a 67.
Greg Chalmers will continue his title defence on the weekend after carding a 69 to get to minus three for the championship.
South Africa's Rory Sabbatini will also feature in the final two rounds after a gutsy second-round 68 to finish at even, while Stuart Appleby (75) overcame a slow start to birdie his final three holes to make the cut on the number at plus one.
Victorian Kieran Pratt (71) produced the shot of the day at the par-five 5th, holing his second for a spectacular albatross, but the Victorian won't be around on the weekend after finishing at plus three.

 

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RECORD NUMBER OF ENTRIES FOR ASIAN TOUR Q SCHOOL

Kuala Lumpur: The 2013 Asian Tour Qualifying School in January is poised to surpass the all-time record of over 650 entries from players around the globe, officials announced.

The four designated venues for Stage One, which will be played from January 9-12 and January 16-19 in Hua Hin, Thailand, reached their maximum entries of 132 players each last week while a fifth venue was opened up this week for 30 more players.

This means a grand total of 558 players will battle it out in Stage One to qualify for the all-important Final Stage, which is expected to receive a further 100-plus entries for those who are exempt from Stage One.

The Asian Tour is now only receiving entries to put onto a reserve list for Stage One.

The Final Stage presented by Sports Authority of Thailand will be held at the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club and Springfield Royal Country Club in Hua Hin from January 23-26 where 40 Asian Tour cards will be at stake.

Tour officials are predicting a final total of over 650 golfers for both stages when entries officially close on December 20, 2012.

At the 2012 Qualifying School earlier this year, a total of 426 players teed up in the First Stage where the top-20 per cent finishers qualified for the Final Stage, and joined another 154 exempted players.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said: “Our 2013 Qualifying School has received such an overwhelming response for the First Stage that we have opened up a fifth venue in Hua Hin.

“We are anticipating our total entries for both stages of Qualifying School to exceed 650 golfers, which will be an Asian Tour record.

“The record numbers is a wonderful testament to the growing popularity and stature of the Asian Tour. As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia and being a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours, Asian Tour tournaments provide widespread playing opportunities for our players and also deliver the best pathway for players in Asia to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro through the Official World Golf Ranking.”

In 2012, the Asian Tour will offer an expected minimum of 2,975 Official World Golf Ranking points to players, which will be used to determine the field for the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro in 2016.

Qualifying School players who do not win Asian Tour cards, will earn playing rights in the secondary Asian Development Tour, which will start receiving Official World Golf Ranking points from 2013 onwards.

In 2012, a total of 27 events in Asia will be sanctioned by the Asian Tour while the Asian Development Tour, which rewards the top-three players with Asian Tour cards, held 13 tournaments on its schedule.

 

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