World number 460 Y.E. Yang grabbed the halfway lead in the Honda Classic in Florida, but Rory McIlroy is handily poised heading into the weekend.
Korea's Yang, a five-time tournament winner in Asia, had started the day at the par-70 PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens two shots back of four-under-par overnight leader Robert Allenby of Australia and in a tie for eighth place.
After one birdie over his opening nine holes from the 10th tee, 37-year-old Yang holed three birdies in succession at the first, second and third before taking the lead with another at the par-three seventh.
Yang, in the last group of the day, completed his round in regulation to post a second-round 65 to lead by a stroke from Allenby and Americans Will Mackenzie and Jeff Overton
Four birdies in the first 10 holes of his second round had helped Overton into an early share of the lead. The American, without a PGA Tour win in 85 events, had started the day a shot behind Allenby and he joined him and Mackenzie on six under with a bogey at the 13th.
Ben Crane was lying two shots back from Yang in fifth having carded a five-under-par second-round 65 with American David Mathis sixth on four under for the tournament.
Germany's Alex Cejka was the leading European in the clubhouse, in a tie for seventh at three under, as was Australian Greg Chalmers, who shot a course record-equalling 64.
Northern Ireland teenager McIlroy continued his great start as a professional in the United States by posting a two-under 68 to lie in a large group of players at two under for the week.
McIlroy had made his pro debut in America at last week's WGC-Accenture Match Play in Tucson, Arizona, earning rave reviews Stateside as he reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual winner Geoff Ogilvy.
World number two Sergio Garcia, Sweden's Fredrik Jacobsen were in a group tied at one under with Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland and Greg Owen of England comfortably into the latter stages at one over.
Ernie Els, though, had to scramble to make the cut. The South African was four over and in need of a birdie at the par-five 18th to reach the weekend, which he accomplished with a seven-foot putt.
Not so fortunate, though, was world number nine Camilo Villegas whose second-round 74 left the Colombian at seven over, four shots adrift of the cut mark.
Also on his way out was England's Justin Rose, who followed his first-round exit in Tucson last week with rounds of 73 and 79, 12 over for the tournament.
Collated second round scores & totals in the USPGA Tour The Honda Classic, PGA National Champion Course, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States of America
(USA unless stated, par 70):
133 Y. E. Yang (Kor) 68 65
134 Will MacKenzie 67 67, Jeff Overton 67 67, Robert Allenby (Aus) 66 68
135 Ben Crane 70 65
136 David Mathis 68 68
137 Jeff Klauk 69 68, John Rollins 69 68, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 73 64, Harrison Frazar 72 65, James Nitties (Aus) 70 67, Alex Cejka (Ger) 71 66
138 John Merrick 69 69, Erik Compton 69 69, Jason Dufner 72 66, Stewart Cink 67 71, Scott Piercy 72 66, Kevin Streelman 70 68, D.A. Points 69 69, Rory McIlroy (NIrl) 70 68, Brett Quigley 71 67
139 Kent Jones 68 71, Steve Marino 69 70, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 67 72, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 72 67, Ryan Palmer 73 66
140 Spencer Levin 72 68, David Berganio Jnr. 71 69, Charlie Wi (Kor) 67 73, Michael Allen 69 71, Nathan Green (Aus) 69 71, Jeff Maggert 70 70, Brandt Jobe 70 70, Rocco Mediate 73 67, Nicholas Thompson 69 71
141 Michael Letzig 70 71, Chris Stroud 69 72, Tim Herron 72 69, Brian Gay 72 69, Lucas Glover 71 70, Matt Kuchar 71 70, Greg Owen (Eng) 72 69, Darren Clarke (NIrl) 70 71, J J Henry 71 70, Mark Calcavecchia 74 67, Shaun Micheel 70 71, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 72 69, Briny Baird 72 69
142 Brendon De Jonge 72 70, Robert Garrigus 72 70, Chris DiMarco 72 70, Davis Love III 73 69, John Senden (Aus) 69 73, Gary Woodland 72 70, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 67 75, Todd Hamilton 72 70, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 73 69, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 71 71, Brian Bateman 69 73, Tadd Fujikawa 71 71, Derek Fathauer 73 69, Johnson Wagner 71 71
143 Brad Adamonis 70 73, Chris Riley 68 75, Scott McCarron 72 71, Bart Bryant 70 73, Casey Wittenberg 71 72, Steve Lowery 72 71, Woody Austin 70 73, John Mallinger 69 74, Justin Leonard 70 73, George McNeill 71 72, Ernie Els (Rsa) 73 70, Brendon Todd 74 69, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70 73, Marc Leishman (Aus) 73 70, Leif Olson 73 70, Boo Weekley 72 71, Scott Verplank 73 70
The following players failed to make the cut
144 Jason Caron 69 75, Jonathan Kaye 74 70, Bill Lunde 72 72, Joe Ogilvie 71 73, Billy Mayfair 69 75, Chris Couch 76 68, Cliff Kresge 72 72, Heath Slocum 69 75, J.B. Holmes 72 72, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 74 70
145 Jerry Kelly 71 74, Tommy Armour III 73 72, Richard S Johnson (Swe) 73 72, Bob Estes 70 75, Paul Goydos 71 74, Andres Romero (Arg) 73 72, Jay Williamson 75 70, Jimmy Walker 74 71, John Huston 72 73, Marc Turnesa 74 71, Olin Browne 73 72, Jonathan Byrd 71 74, James Oh (Kor) 75 70
146 Ricky Barnes 76 70, Brad Faxon 75 71, Brian Davis (Eng) 74 72, Steve Flesch 75 71
147 Robert Gamez 76 71, Eric Axley 73 74, Colt Knost 74 73, Alan Morin 74 73, Chez Reavie 76 71, Peter Lonard (Aus) 74 73, Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 75 72, Bill Haas 77 70, Scott Gutschewski 77 70, Ken Duke 74 73, Camilo Villegas (Col) 73 74
148 Peter Tomasulo 76 72, Aron Price (Aus) 73 75, Greg Kraft 74 74, Matt Bettencourt 74 74, Tom Pernice Jnr. 77 71, Tim Petrovic 77 71, Brandt Snedeker 79 69, Jason Bohn 77 71, Ryan Moore 77 71
149 Jose Coceres (Arg) 75 74, Martin Laird (Sco) 73 76, Troy Matteson 75 74
150 Billy Andrade 76 74, Sal Spallone 81 69, Brian Vranesh 77 73, Vaughn Taylor 79 71, Ted Purdy 74 76, Rick Price 74 76, Mark Wilson 75 75, Shingo Katayama (Jpn) 71 79
151 Webb Simpson 78 73
152 Justin Rose (Eng) 73 79, Matt Weibring 78 74
157 David Duval 82 75
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