UNKNOWN SOUTH KOREAN SHOOTS A 62 TO LEAD SK TELECOM OPEN

NEWS RELEASE
JEJU ISLAND, South Korea: Unheralded journeyman Kim Chang-yoon fired a course-record 10-under-par 62 on Friday to lead after two rounds of OneAsia's SK Telecom Open at Pinx Golf Club on South Korea's Jeju Island.

Kim had 10 birdies around the 6,732 metre (7,361 yard) par-72 course -- remarkably without a single chip-in -- to stand at 14 under for the tournament, a stroke ahead of overnight leader Matt Griffin (67) from Australia.

 Another Australian, Jason Norris, posted his second 66 for sole possession of third place, with Korea's Park Do-kyu (66) one more  behind

Kim only made it into this U.S. $900,000 tournament as an alternate, having all but lost his status on the South Korean domestic tour by making just two cuts last year. Although he has one tournament victory to his name  -- the 2007 KPGA Championship -- his nine-year professional career has mostly been middle-of-the-road seasons with the occasional return trip to Q-School.

The 29-year-old retains a hunger for the game, however, which he staved off -- literally -- by chewing his way through vast quantities of gum during his record-breaking round. 

"I have never done it before, but I decided to chew gum so that I would concentrate," he said. "I don't know how much I chewed, but it helped.

"I am trying not to be so stressed about the game, not to worry so much, and this definitely worked." 

Kim said he had prepared far less for 2013 than in previous seasons despite the pressure of trying to earn enough to make ends meet.

"I had to try something different as what I was doing before wasn't working," he said. "I hope I can keep this up now." 

He birdied all four of the par fives and six of the par fours after making every green in regulation on Friday. He had just 25 putts, with the longest being a 20-footer on the par-four 12th.

The previous record at Pinx was a 63 scored by South Korean Hur In-hoi in the third round of last year's tournament.

Griffin is chasing his second win on OneAsia and in Korea following victory in September at the Charity High1 Resort Open.

"Any time you shoot a 64 it's hard to back it up, so I was really happy with a 67 today," said Griffin, whose only bogey came at the 12th when he was distracted by a camera crew on the tee. 

"I've got a really good strategy around here and it's working well for me so I reckon I'll just stick to the same thing. I wouldn't mind if the weather changes a bit … it would make it interesting."

Adelaide-born Norris was delighted with his second 66 and the chance for a lucrative weekend after a brush with death the last time he was in a similar position. 

Norris was leading Queensland PGA Championship in Australia in February after rounds of 60 and 66, but was struck down with viral meningitis before the third round and rushed to intensive care.

"I was very sick," he said. "It took me more than six weeks to recover. It really wasn't very nice at all." 

The illness came just as Norris was enjoying some form, having finished second at the New Zealand Open in November but claiming first prize as winner Jake Higginbottom was an amateur at the time.

Norris wouldn't make any predictions for the weekend.. 

"It's nice to be where I am, but the conditions are perfect for scoring," he said. "I could have had a few more out there today."

The cut was set at three under, with 68 professionals and two amateurs playing at the weekend.

  LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72) Yardage 7,361

Players from South Korea unless stated

130 - KIM Chang-yoon  68-62.

131 - Matthew GRIFFIN (AUS) 64-67.

132 - Jason NORRIS (AUS) 66-66.

133 - PARK Do-kyu 67-66.

134 - HU Mu (CHN) 66-68.

135 - LEE Ki-sang  67-68, Jin JEONG  68-67, KIM Jae-ho 66-69.

136 - K.J. CHOI 69-67, PARK Sang-hyun 68-68, KIM Hyung-tae  67-69, KIM Woo-chan 68-68, MOON Kyong-jun 67-69, KIM Gi-whan  70-66, KIM Do-hoon 66-70, Akinori TANI (JPN) 67-69, PARK Chan-joon 68-68.

SELECTED TOTALS

137 Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS) 68-69.

138  David OH (USA) 66-72, Gareth PADDISON (NZL) 68-70, David McKENZIE (AUS) 68-70, Michael LONG (NZL) 66-72.

139 Andre STOLZ (AUS) 69-70, Craig HANCOCK (AUS) 67-72, Lucas LEE (BRA) 69-70, Anthony BROWN (AUS) 66-73, Andrew KELLY (AUS) 70-69

140 Ryan HALLER (AUS) 70-70,  Joshua YOUNGER (AUS) 71-69, Jamie ARNOLD (AUS) 69-71, Stephen DARTNALL (AUS) 68-72

141 - Nick CULLEN (AUS) 71-70, Scott LAYCOCK (AUS) 71-70, Peter WILSON (AUS) 70-71, John Young KIM (USA) 70-71, Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS) 73-68, Ryan FOX (NZL) 70-71

MISSED THE CUT (141 and better qualified)

143 - Michael WRIGHT (AUS) 70-73, Stephen LEANEY (AUS) 70-73, Rohan BLIZARD (AUS) 72-71, Richard T LEE (CAN) 74-69
144 Steve JEFFRESS (AUS) 70-74, Matthew STIEGER (AUS) 71-73, Rhein GIBSON (AUS) 71-73, 73-71, Matthew GUYATT (AUS) 73-71.

145 - Garrett SAPP (USA) 70-75, Jason SCRIVENER (AUS) 69-76

146 - Brad SHILTON (NZL) 73-73, Andrew TSCHUDIN (AUS) 74-72