Bernd Wiesberger made the most of the good conditions to take the halfway lead at the Ballantine's Championship.
Surprise leader in South Korea where Poulter makes a move
Austrian Bernd Wiesberger made the most of the benign early conditions to take the halfway lead at the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea.
The 33-year-old, who is still seeking his first European Tour success, carded seven birdies in a flawless seven-under 65 at Blackstone Golf Club to move to seven-under 137 for the tournament.
After starting on the 10th hole, Wiesberger birdied the 13th, 15th and 18th before adding four more birdies on the front nine, the highlight a chip-in on the ninth, to move one ahead of Australian Marcus Fraser.
"Some of these days it all comes together and it was one of them today," he said.
Fraser, who won this tournament in 2010 when it was played on Jeju Island, carded a 67, a score matched by Sweden's Oscar Floren who is third on five under.
Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, last year's runner-up, hit a 68 to move into a tie for fourth on four under alongside Englishman Anthony Wall (67) and Felipe Aguilar of Chile (69).
Paul Casey trod water with a level-par 72 to remain on two under where he was joined by fellow Englishman Ian Poulter who enjoyed the calm early conditions as he posted a 67.
Poulter on the rise
World number 25 Poulter had struggled to a three-over 75 in the opening round and looked like missing the cut but he's now up to tied 11th and just five back.
"Yeah, yesterday was frustrating," Poulter said. "I hit a couple of poor shots and three three-putts put me three-over for the day.
"But this morning, flat calm, the sun's out and it was definitely scoreable out there today. I gave myself plenty of looks at birdie and managed to take a few.
"Lee Westwood made the cut on the number last year and went on to win. So I'm certainly not going to be sitting back. I need to put birdies in the bag, really.
"It's about going out there and making as many birdies as I can, and this golf course gives it up on the par fives. Certainly you have to take advantage of those.
"There's a couple of key holes which can play pretty tricky. Get through those and I think there's plenty of birdie opportunities."
However, Open champion Darren Clarke couldn't undo the damage caused by his opening day 77 and missed the cut despite improving with a second-round level-par 72 which contained four birdies.
Overnight leader Victor Dubuisson of France slipped six off the pace after a 75.
