GOLF/Asian Open: IN-FORM Maarten Lafeber could be forgiven for feeling a touch of déjà vu when he tees up for the third round of the BMW Asian Open in Taiwan.
For the third time in five weeks, the 28-year-old Dutchman is tournament leader at the halfway stage - but he is still waiting for his maiden tour title.
A second successive 66 earned Lafeber a four-shot lead, at 132, over the next best, Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who shot 70, and South African Trevor Immelman, who added a 67 to his opening 69.
It was a bad day for Harrington's compatriot, Paul McGinley, who slumped to a second round 80 to end the day on 150, five shots outside the half-way cut of 145.
Rookie Dubliner Peter Lawrie will be playing at the weekend after shooting 72, for 143.
Harrington had been at his pinpoint best in firing a six-under 66 on the opening day - a flawless round in squalid conditions during which he had a birdie putt on all 18 holes.
And he looked to be straight back into the groove when, having been out shortly after 7 a.m. from the 10th tee, he picked up a birdie two at the 11th and then moved into the lead on his own with a 35-foot birdie at the next.
The 31-year-old, seeking to gain an early lead in the Order of Merit table in the first event of the 2003 European Tour, then stretched his lead to two with a 25-foot putt for birdie on the 15th.
After turning in 33, Harrington bogeyed the first and then, after holing an eight-footer for birdie at the third, disappointingly dropped back to eight under with a bogey on the ninth, his last.
Harrington's time alone at the top of the leaderboard was short-lived, with the talented Immelman putting together a late burst of birdies to join him on eight under.
Afterwards Harrington blamed a lack of sharpness for his performance. "I started well, but my concentration wasn't good today. I should have done better as I was swinging the club fine. Some days it's like that. I wasn't in it today.
"I don't think the course played a hell of a lot different to yesterday, I just didn't do the job, and it's always annoying to bogey the last.
"I should have been a few better. It's an opportunity missed."
Overnight leader Jyoti Randhawa was one of the afternoon starters but he fell away to three under with an eight on the long 14th. American Andrew Pitts and Australian Adrian Percey lie five shots off the pace in joint fourth, with Scotland's Simon Yates among those on six under.
Three of the Tour's old stagers enjoyed something of a return to form in the blustery conditions.
Barry Lane fired a bogey-free 69 to move to five under, whilst on four under were outgoing Ryder Cup skipper Sam Torrance, who came home in 31 for a 67, and Ian Woosnam, who added a 69 to his opening 71.
The morning was marred by news of the death of John Daly's father, Lou, from lung cancer.
