JAMES BYRNE SHARING EIGHTH PLACE

Banchory's James Byrne, seeking a third successive top-10 finish on the Asian Developmental Tour, moved up to joint eighth in the Yeangdor ADT tournament with a three-under-par 69 for a halfway total of 139 at Taipei. He is 10 shots behind the leader by four, local player Lu Chien-soon. PRESS RELEASE FROM ASIAN DEVELOPMENTAL TOUR    Taipei, November 21: Veteran golfer Lu Chien-soon shot 11 birdies en-route to a sizzling nine-under-par 63 as he charged into a five-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Yeangder ADT today. Co-overnight leader Lu, who won multiple titles in Asia during the 1980s, blitzed the course with a hot putter, making only 25 putts, to take the lead over Korean T.J. Kim (66) at the season-ending US$120,000 Asian Development Tour (ADT) event. Brian Locke of the United States, who won his first ADT title a fortnight ago in Malaysia, posted a 67 for third place, six shots from playing partner Lu at the National Garden Country Club. Lu, who plies his trade on the Champions (Seniors) Tour in the United States, was hot off the blocks, shooting seven straight birdies including a 24-footer on the 12th hole and reeled in four further birdies on the back against two bogeys.   At the age of 52, Lu said a strict practice regime kept him on top of his game and he is aiming for back-to-back victories after winning a senior’s event on home soil last week.   “The last time I made so many birdies was way back in 1983. I remember it was six birdies in a row so this beats that personal record,” smiled Lu, who leads on 15-under-par 129.   “There’s no secret to my fitness because I practise from 7am to 5 or 6pm every day! I don’t do any jogging except for push-ups. When I won last week, I shot a 62 in the second round and many people were saying you can only do that in a seniors’ event. I guess I proved them wrong,” he added.   ADT regular, T.J. Kim, who finished fourth on the Order of Merit in 2010, crafted a flawless score with three birdies in each half. The Korean, who recently opened a golf academy in Korea, had something to prove to his student, Yong Jun, who was on his bag.   “My student is caddying for me this week. Right now, I only have two students so I thought it would be a treat to bring him here. I love this golf course and the weather. When I play here, I don’t feel any pressure,” said the 43-year-old.   The battle for the top-three positions on the Order of Merit, which rewards the players with 2013 Asian Tour cards, is beginning to heat up as Hsu Mong-nan (second), Peter Richardson (third) and Hsieh Chi-hsien (fourth), who won on this venue in August are tied in eighth place on 139.   Nearly over US$4,500 separates second and fourth place on the Order of Merit and Richardson knows it will be a close fight to the finishing line.   “Today’s round helps with my cause. I struggled a bit on the first day but it was a good bounce back. Some of the guys are playing very well so I can’t let my guard down. It is going to be an exciting last two days,” said Richardson, who played college golf at the Purdue University with Asian Tour winners Shiv Kapur and Pariya Junhasavasdikul of Thailand.   Current Order of Merit leader Jay Bayron of the Philippines is likely to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour as he shot a 70 to lie in 21st position.   The halfway cut was set at even-par 144 with a total of 60 players making it through to the last two rounds.   Leading second round scores: Par 144 (2x72) 129 - LU Chien-soon (TPE) 66-63        134 - T.J. KIM (KOR) 68-66     135 - Brian LOCKE (USA) 68-67          136 - LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 66  70        137 - CHAN Yih-shin (TPE) 71-66, CHEN Hao-sen (TWN) 68-69, YANG Fei-hao (TPE) 71-66 139 - LIN Keng-chi (TPE) 70-69, Nick REDFERN (ENG) 68-71, HSIEH Chi-hsien (TPE)            68-71, HSU Mong-nan (TPE) 67-72, Peter RICHARDSON (ENG) 71-68, James BYRNE (SCO) 70-69, TSAI Chi-huang (TPE) 70-69, SUNG Mao-chang (TPE) 67-72       140 - CHEN Tze-chung (TPE) 72-68, Luke BLEUMINK (AUS) 70-70, HUANG Tao (TPE) 68-72, KAO Shang-hung (TPE) 69-71   , George GANDRANATA (INA) 69-71    About the Asian Development Tour