TAIPEI, Sept 28, 2012 (AFP) - Baek joined Filipino veteran Antonio Lascuna and Taiwanese trio Wang Shih-jui, overnight leader Lien Chi-wei and Tsai Chi-huang, the only player to break par with a 69 at the US$600,000 Asian Tour event, on a combined total of 143.
Fiue-time Asian Tour winner Lin Wen-tang of Taiwan, Bangladeshi Siddikur, Malaysia's Danny Chia and Kalle Samooja of Finland were a further shot back in a tie for sixth.
The Taiwan Golf and Country Club was swept by sporadic showers in the morning but strong gusts of wind with speeds of over 30 kilometres per hour continued for the whole day as Typhoon Jelawat is expected to hit the country on Friday evening.
Despite the testing conditions where a tree was uprooted, Baek managed to hang on and put himself in a strong position of winning his first Asian Tour title.
"It wasn't fun because it's very windy and at any time, the wind can change direction," said Baek, who shot four birdies against three bogeys and one double bogey.
"It was raining for like five minutes, then it stopped, then it rained again. I had a double bogey because of the rain and it was so cold," he added.
Samooja meanwhile is hoping to take advantage of his limited Asian Tour appearances this season. The Finnish player traded three birdies against four bogeys and believes he is in good position for the weekend.
"This is my seventh event this year. I didn't get to save my card last year so I only get to play in minimal events. I hope I can get my card for next year. That's my main goal this year," said Samooja.
On the conditions he added: "It was really tough. The wind got strong and it kept getting tougher out there."
Leading scores on Friday after the second round of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters at the par 72 Tamsui Course (a - denotes amateur):
143 - Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 70-73, Baek Seuk-hyun (KOR) 70-73, Wang Shih-jui (TPE) 70-73, Lien Chi-wei (TPE) 66-77, Tsai Chi-huang (TPE) 74-69
144 - Kalle Samooja (FIN) 71-73, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 71-73, Siddikur (BAN) 72-72, Danny Chia (MAS) 72-72
145 - Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 73-72, Chen Tze-chung (TPE) 73-72, Angelo Que (PHI) 70-75, Yeh Wei-tze (TPE) 74-71, Adilson da Silva (BRA) 73-72, Guido Van der Valk (NED) 73-72
146 - David Lipsky (USA) 72-74, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 71-75
147 - Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 71-76, Sung Mao-chang (TPE) 72-75, Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 72-75, Chang Yao-pin (TPE) 73-74, Lu Chien-soon (TPE) 77-70, Lin Keng-chi (TPE) 73-74, Hsieh Chin-sheng (TPE) 71-76, Hsieh Chi-hsien (TPE) 70-77