COOLUM, November 25, 2011 (AFP) - Former Australian amateur champion Marcus Fraser skipped two shots clear of a strong field after carding a flawless seven-under 65 in the second round of the Australian PGA on Friday.
US Presidents Cup player Bubba Watson, who led for much of the day after a second-round 68, was breathing hard down his neck at the par-72 Hyatt Regency Course in Coolum with a two-day-total 135.
South Korean star Kim Kyung-Tae was a shot further back on eight under, with fellow countryman YE Yang on seven under alongside Australian trio Adam Scott, John Senden and Robert Allenby.
Fraser, who has won two tournaments on the European Tour, said he was full of confidence and would not be intimidated despite the calibre of players snapping at his heels.
"It's what you play the game for -- I'll give it a shot and see what happens," he said.
"I've played great over the past two days. I felt like I made some really good putts."
The Victorian fired seven birdies and didn't drop a shot as he first caught Watson then overtook the American, who stumbled on the back nine to surrender the lead.
Kim, an impressive performer at last week's Presidents Cup, is well in contention after shooting a 67 to give himself a chance of winning the OneAsia Order of Merit.
If Kim wins and current leader Andre Stolz finishes lower than third, the Korean will finish leading money winner on the OneAsia tour.
Stolz is well out of contention following a disappointing 77 which left him even with card and only just avoiding the cut.
Tournament drawcards Darren Clarke and Greg Norman also made the weekend after contrasting rounds.
Norman shot a 69 to finish three under, while Clarke hit five birdies, two bogeys and three double bogeys on his way to a 73, leaving him two under for the tournament and nine shots off the pace.
Overnight leaders Choi Joon-Woo and Steven Bowditch dropped off the pace, both players shooting one-over-par 73s to sit at five under in a tie for 17th.
Leading second round scores from the $1.5 million Australian PGA at the Hyatt Regency Resort (par 72) on Friday (Australian unless stated):
133 - Marcus Fraser 68-65
135 - Bubba Watson (USA) 67-68
136 - Kim Kyung-Tae (KOR) 69-67
137 - John Senden 73-64, Adam Scott 70-67, Robert Allenby 69-68, YE Yang (KOR) 69-68
138 - Aaron Townsend 67-71, Kurt Barnes 69-69, Josh Geary (NZL) 68-70, Leigh McKechnie 68-70, Chan Shi-chang (TPE) 69-69, Stuart Appleby 70-68, Kieran Pratt 68-70, Jason Day 69-69, Anthony Summers 70-68
139 - Choi Joon-Woo (KOR) 66-73, Marc Leishman 70-69, Steven Bowditch 66-73, Doug R Holloway (NZL) 70-69, Aaron Baddely 67-72
Selected scores:
140 - Greg Chalmers 71-69, Han Chang-Won (KOR) 68-72
141 - Greg Norman 72-69, Geoff Ogilvy 72-69
142 - Darren Clarke (NIR) 69-73, Rickie Fowler (USA) 69-73, Li Haotong (CHN) 72-70
143 - Kim Woo-Hyun (KOR) 74-69, Peter Senior 70-73
144 - Kang Sung-Hoon (KOR) 75-69, Andre Stolz 67-77, Jason Kang (USA) 72-72, Eugene Choe (USA) 70-74
145 - Ronald Harvey (CAN) 71-74, Wu Kangchun (CHN) 68-77, Ouyang Zheng (CHN) 72-73, Huang Wenyi (CHN) 76-69