Park Sang-Hyun holds lead in Seoul

Park Sang-Hyun holds a one shot lead going into the weekend after carding a second round three-under-par 69 Friday at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship at Namseoul Country Club in Seoul.

The South Korean rode his luck as he made his way to a seven-under total of 137 on the hilly 6,964 yard (6,368 metre) course, the third stop on the 2012 OneAsia circuit.

"I had a bit of luck and scrambled well," said Park, 29, who won the SK Telecom Open in 2009 before it became a OneAsia event, and also finished second on last year's Korean Golf Tour Order of Merit.

On the par-five 16th Park's second shot appeared destined for the woods before striking a branch and ricocheting back to the fairway.

A birdie there, and one on the closing hole helped him to an inward 32 following an outward 37.

A shot back on six-under-par were fellow South Koreans Kim Bi-O and Kang Kyung-Nam, while three others -- including rookies Garrett Sapp from the United States and Japan's Koichi Kitamura -- were another stroke adrift.

Defending champion Kim Kyung-Tae shot a level par 72 to lie five shots off the lead.

The round of the day belonged to New Zealander Gareth Paddison who shot a stunning 66 to improve on his opening 78 and ensure he made the weekend.

The tournament is the third stop on the OneAsia tour, which has 14 events this year with a total purse of over $16 million.

Leading scores after the second round (par 72): 137 - Park Sang-Hyun (KOR) 68-69 138 - Kim Bi-O (KOR) 69-69, Kang Kyung-Nam (KOR) 68-70 139 - Garrett Sapp (USA) 68-71, Lee Seong-Ho (KOR) 70-69, Koichi Kitamura (JPN) 68-71 140 - Choi Ho-Sung (KOR) 70-70, Hwang In-Choon (KOR) 69-71, Kim Meen-Whee (KOR) 71-69, Bang Doo-Hwan (KOR) 72-68