MACAU, September 16, 2011 (AFP) - Finland's Joonas Granberg equalled the course record with 62 to lie a shot off the lead after the second round of the Macau Open on Friday, with Taiwan's Chan Yih-shin heading the field.
Chan, joint overnight leader at the Macau Golf and Country Club, recovered from an early bogey and saved a vital par with a 20-foot putt on the 15th on his way to a round of 67, to go nine under par for the tournament.
Asian Tour rookie Granberg recovered from his opening round 72 with pinpoint iron play, missing only one green and sinking an eagle at the 18th, and stands a good chance of adding to his win at the Selangor Masters in Malaysia in July.
"It was a solid round. I made many putts and missed only one green. My confidence is much higher now after I won in Malaysia but it is going to be a tough two days," said the 24-year-old.
Rikard Karlberg of Sweden, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour who had a share of the first round lead, also made eagle on the last hole for a 69 to sit in third place in the $750,000 event.
Starting on the back nine, Chan fired a superb eagle three on the second hole when his seven iron approach from 198 yards landed just nine feet from the pin, before adding two more birdies.
"It has been a long time since I last had such good scores. I'm happy to have a chance to be in the leading group. I like the pressure and I'm eager to play in the next two days," Chan said.
The 34-year-old said he had struggled with his putting in the last eight months but is now full of confidence after pulling off some remarkable shots in the last two rounds.
"I haven't been playing that well but my confidence is back. I needed some amazing shots to get my confidence back up," he said.
Jeev Milkha Singh of India, playing in his first Macau Open since 1999, got round in 68 to share fourth place with highly rated Thanyakon Khrongpha of Thailand and Australian Adam Groom, who carded 66 and 69 respectively.
The cut was set at one-over-par 143, with Anthony Kang of the United States and Englishman Nick Redfern -- who shared the first round lead with Chan and Karlberg -- missing the weekend rounds as they shot matching 78s.
Leading second-round scores at the $750,000 Macau Open on Friday:
133 - Chan Yih-shin (TPE) 66-67
134 - Joonas Granberg (FIN) 72-62
135 - Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 66-69
136 - Adam Groom (AUS) 67-69, Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA) 70-66, Jeev M Singh (IND) 68-68
137 - Brad Smith (AUS) 67-70, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 70-67, Prom Meesawat (THA) 71-66, Niall Turner (IRL) 70-67.
138 - Jbe Kruger (RSA) 70-68, Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 71-67, Rick Gibson (CAN) 71-67, Mo Joong-kyung (KOR) 70-68