GOLF: Geoff Ogilvy maintained his lead at the PGA Tour season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship in Hawaii after firing a five-under-par 68 in the second round.

The 31-year-old Australian followed a bogey-free first round of 67 with another superb round at Kapalua's Plantation Course to reach the halfway mark at 11 under, one shot ahead of DJ Trahan and two clear of Ernie Els.

Ogilvy began well with five birdies on the front nine including a run of three straight from the fourth to sixth and was six under for the day after making another on the 15th.

His flawless streak came to an end when he bogeyed the 17th but a par at the final hole ensured his place at the top of the leaderboard.

Trahan blistered the course with a seven-under 66 that featured seven birdies and an eagle offset by two bogeys as he moved from a tie for ninth after an opening-round 70 up to second spot.

Els hung in despite a rough front nine that featured a pair of bogeys. The South African was strong on the back nine, posting birdies on the 13th, 15th and 18th as he finished with a four-under 69 to improve to nine under.

Anthony Kim is in a six-way tie for fourth after firing a 68 to join Kenny Perry (71), Sean O'Hair (70), Ryuji Imada (70), Johnson Wagner (71) and Davis Love III (70) on seven under.

Defending champion Daniel Chopra completed his second round with a four-under 69 and is two over 148 overall while 2007 winner Vijay Singh, who will undergo knee surgery following the event, is even par after posting consecutive 73s.