Golf:Australian Brett Rumford fired a second round 63 to set a challenging 10 under par clubhouse target at the midway stage of the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea where Damien McGrane is still within touching distance.
Rumford (33), looking to go one better than last year's runner-up finish, fired a flawless nine birdie round to lead by three from playing partner Soren Kjeldsen from Denmark (66) and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez (67).
"I struck a little bit of magic out there today and it's great to have these shots up your sleeve going into the weekend," said Rumford, seeking his fourth European Tour title at the co-sanctioned event.
"I'm in a position now to be thinking (about a win), for sure. At the beginning of the week, maybe not so. I haven't come into this week with great form but this is a fickle game and it changes from week to week," added Rumford, whose last win came at the 2007 European Masters.
First round leader Damien McGrane was two under with six to play but bogeys at 15 and 17 left the Meath man signing for a level par 72 to be in the chasing pack four off the lead on six under at Blackstone GC in Incheon.
Behind McGrane a trio of Irish players all carded 70s with Paul McGinley up to three under and inside the top 10, while Shane Lowry - playing alongside McGrane - and Gareth Maybin were both safely into the weekend on two under.
Michael Hoey dropped back to one over after his 74 but scraped into the weekend on the cut mark.
World number one Lee Westwood narrowly missed an eight-foot putt for eagle at his final hole and had to settle for a 68 and a share of 11th on four under.
American World number 12 Dustin Johnson struggled with his putting but still managed a 69 to be within touching distance and inside the top 10 at five under.
"I'm rolling it good and they look like they're going in, but are just barely missing," said Johnson, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour.
"If I'd made a few in the last couple of days then I'd be right up there in the lead. I just need to get some putts going early in the round tomorrow and hopefully feed off that."
Three-time major winner Ernie Els carded a second successive 73 to miss the cut along with local Yang Yong-eun. South Korea and Asia's only major winner carded a 72 to finish four over.
Ian Poulter started well with two birdies in the first three but a succession of dropped shots meant his eagle at the 18th was only good enough for a 72 that left him also outside the cut on two over.
The tournament is co-sanctioned by the European, Asian and Korean Tours.
