World No.37 Kim Kyung-tae moved into an ominous two shot lead at the halfway stage of the Maekyung Open after last year's runner-up carded a second round four-under-par 68 at an overcast Namseoul Golf & Country Club on Friday.
The 2007 champion followed up an opening round 67 after keying a run five birdies in seven holes around the turn to move clear of Korean compatriots Kang Kyung-nam and Cho Min-gyu at nine-under-par heading into the weekend of this week's US$1 million OneAsia event.
And after Kim Kyung-tae topped the 2010 Japan Tour money list after posting three wins, the 24-year-old is in pole position to claim a second green jacket at Namseoul Golf & Country Club after finishing four shots adrift of runaway winner Kim Dae-hyun last year.
"On the first nine holes I made three straight birdies and I was feeling very good with all my shots and also my putting. On the back nine I made a lot of mistakes, but nine under after two rounds is a very good score," said Kim Kyung-tae.
"I have two more days left and I am very confident as all my shots and my putting are feeling very good this week, so I think I have a good chance to win this tournament again. It is good that my putting feels good as the greens are very tough to read."
Korean Kang, who finished third last year but has missed the cut in his last two events, carded eight birdies to post a 66 to sit a shot clear of overnight leader Kim Hui-soo and Australia's Stephen Allan alongside Cho at seven-under-par.
"I started the round on the back nine with a birdie which was a nice way to start, but I didn't expect to score that well," said Kang. "I holed a lot of short putts and had a long 10 foot putt for birdie on the fifth hole."
"I have played well this year and my aim this week is to finish inside the top five. My short game is very good at the moment and my putting is also improving as well which helps to post better scores."
After claiming a one shot first round lead in his first professional event with a 66, 19-year-old Korean amateur Kim Hui-soo produced a solid second round 72.
"I was very calm and I am satisfied with a 72. In the first round I did not play that well, but I had some luck with the putter, but it was opposite in the second round," said the second year university student."Now I have made the cut there is less pressure and I can go forward and be strong."
Kim Kyung-tae's playing partner Allan, who finished sixth last year en route to an 11th placed finish on the OneAsia Order of Merit, conceded just one bogey in a 67 to leave the 2002 Australian Open winner well-placed three shots off the pace heading into the weekend.
"It was nice to get a good score on the board after a disappointing finish to the first round," said 37-year-old Allan, who dropped two shots over his final four first round holes on Thursday.
"I now need to do that again over the weekend, but I sometimes have a habit of getting ahead of myself so I have really got to take it one shot at a time. That is especially important with some of the shots you have to hit round this golf course and also with the severity of the greens, but that helps me focus on each and every shot which is a good thing."
A hole-in-one helped Hur In-hoi, who finished tied for sixth alongside Allan last year, post a second round 69 to join fellow Koreans Kim Dae-hyun, Lee Dong-min and Kim Yeong-su tied for sixth at five-under-par.
Defending champion Kim Dae-hyun appeared to be mounting a charge in the damp afternoon conditions in the hills surrounding Seoul after reeling off three consecutive birdies on the back nine to the delight of the home crowd.
But the big-hitting 23-year-old failed to make any further inroads and finished his second round with a second bogey of the day, although Kim Dae-hyun should not be discounted after posting back-to-back rounds of 66 over the weekend last year to claim victory.