Koreans Kim and Ok lead International Series Korea on Asian Tour

Hanbyeol Kim from Korea fired a 66 and is two shots back, while his compatriot Yoseop Seo returned the same score and is one stroke further adrift.

Dubai based Shiv Kapur made the cut on the mark with a second round of 74 to be level par on 142 after 36 holes.

Kapur, 40 years old, starting on Tee 1, began with a bogey on his opening hole and a double on hole six to be out in three over par 38. A birdie on hole 11 steadied Shiv’s ship and a bogey – par finish saw him over the line – just.

Shiv was not immediately available for comment after his round as he took an extended cool off time in the Player’s Private Scoring Area.

After a lengthy break, Shiv told Gulf News, “It was just one of those days where I did not have my game. These things happen in golf. I struggled off the tee and it was a scramble all day. Hopefully, I will find my swing either by accident or on the range or in my dreams. Today was just frustrating and, in all honesty, I was lucky to make the cut. Dream well and wish me luck for tomorrow.”

Nine birdies

Bio made nine birdies and dropped just one shot to put himself in the perfect position to win his second Asian Tour event at the weekend, having been triumphant in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, also in Korea, in May.

Said the 31-year-old, “It is really great having my family here with me. We are having fun here. It’s a family trip which allows me to get away from golf a bit. I think I was thinking too much the past month, it shows I should do that a little more often.”

Ok also a tied fifth in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open to suggest a win this year is not far away.

He added, “It was heart breaking what happened at the Korea Open but I gained a lot of experience.”

The cut fell at level par 142 with 74 players going through to the weekend.

Shiv tees off in match 11 tomorrow (Saturday) off Tee 10 at 8.30 am along with Sungho Lee (Korea) and Travis Smyth (Aus).