Irish off the pace in Korea
Paul McGinley
Bernd Wiesberger shot a second-round 65 to take the early clubhouse lead at seven under par at the Ballantine’s Championship in Icheon, South Korea today.
The Austrian, who began his tournament with a par 72 yesterday, picked up seven birdies in a blemish-free round to sit one shot ahead of Australia’s Marcus Fraser at Blackstone Golf Club.
Fraser enjoyed a fine start today with four birdies seeing him reach the turn in 32 – having started on the 10th, like Wiesberger – before adding successive birdies on the first and second holes.
However, he dropped shots on the third and seventh – having picked up another birdie on the fifth – and had to settle for second spot on the leaderboard.
Swede Oscar Floren occupied third spot on five under par after also shooting a 67 today, while three players shared fourth place on four under – Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez (68), England’s Anthony Hall (67) and Chilean Felipe Aguilar (69).
Local player Bae Sang-moon was rapidly climbing up the the leaderboard after picking up birdies on the second, third, fourth, fifth, ninth and 12th left him on six under for the round after 12 and three under for the tournament.
English trio Paul Casey (72), David Howell (69) and Ian Poulter (67) were in the clubhouse on two under following their second rounds.
Among the Irish, Paul Mc Ginley dropped a shot and is now seven off the lead.
The former Ryder cup vice captain is level par after 11 while Shane Lowry had a great round of 70 and is level par in the clubhouse.
Gareth Maybin is level par after seven while Damien Mc Grane is one over after six and Darren Clarke is four over after 12.
Meanwhile Graeme Mc Dowell is just four off the lead after day one of the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, on three under after a round of 69.
Ken Duke and Cameron Tringale hold the lead on seven under.
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