Sihwan Kim’s last-ditch bid to keep his European Tour card gathered pace at the ISPS HANDA Perth International as the Korean moved into the lead when the second round began in Perth.
Only the top 111 players on The Race to Dubai will keep their cards at the end of the week, and with a current ranking of 138th Kim needs at least a top-two finish at Lake Karrinyup.
Looking to follow compatriot Jin Jeong and make it consecutive wins for Koreans in the event, Challenge Tour graduate Kim birdied his opening hole and then had four gains in five holes from the ninth.
That took him to 11 under par, and two clear of Australian Richard Green and Denmark’s overnight joint-leader Thorbjørn Olesen.
Three-time European Tour winner Green, needing a good showing in order to qualify for the lucrative Final Series, was five under for the day in the closing stages of his round.
Olesen matched qualifier John Wade’s course record 64 on the opening day, and added further birdies on the 13th and 14th before dropping his first shot of the week at the 18th.
Wade, who was among the later starters, was alone in fourth on eight under.
