GOLF/Singapore Masters: Australian left-hander Nick O'Hern carded a one-under-par 71 yesterday to take a one-shot lead after the second round of the Singapore Masters. Nick Faldo was just two strokes off the pace.

O'Hern (30), who fired a course-record 64 on Thursday, moved to nine-under 135, one stroke ahead of American Jimmy Johnson (67) at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club.

Faldo followed his first-day 68 with a 69 to end the day at seven-under 137, level with South Korea's Charlie Wi (67) and American Mike Cunning (70).

Frenchman Christophe Pottier, who opened with a first-round 65, slipped off the pace into a share of 12th place on 139 after a disappointing 74.

Ian Woosnam (152), 2001 Asian Open champion Jarmo Sandelin (145) and Costantino Rocca (144) were among the casualties who missed the cut, made at one-under-par 143.

"I played pretty similar to yesterday but just didn't hole the putts that I did yesterday," O'Hern said.

"It was pretty decent, but the last four or five holes I started to struggle a bit and made a couple of nice pars and threw in a bogey.

"The back nine I didn't hit the ball very well so I have got to work on it this afternoon and get it right."

Johnson (38), who has spent much of the past five years caddying for Nick Price, was happy with his steady play. "I didn't hit a lot of big shots and I just kept it in play and kept it on the right side of the hole and made a few good putts," he said.