Harris maintains lead

American Corey Harris maintained his overnight lead in the Asian Tour Qualifying School Finals after shooting a four-under-par 68 in the second round at Palm Resort Golf and Country Club in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on Thursday.

Starting from the 10th of the Allamanda Course, Harris, who spent a month in Hua Hin, Thailand, practising for the qualifiers, turned in three under par before nailing a seven iron to 15 feet on the par five third hole for an eagle. He dropped his lone bogey with a three-putt on the fifth for a two-day total of 12-under-par 132.

He leads by one stroke from Asian Tour regular Ross Bain of Scotland, who carded a fine 64 at the Allamanda while Korea's Jin Yong-gab was the best placed Asian in tied fifth place, four shots off the lead following a 68 at the Cempaka Course.

Malaysia's Shaifubari Muda stayed in the hunt after a 72 over the Cempaka layout left him in equal 12th position.

Former Asian Games gold medallist Shiv Kapur of India also stayed in the chase with a 71 at the Allamanda layout for tied 25th place.

"I didn't play that well in Stage One last week but yesterday, things clicked and I started hitting it really good," said Harris, who has won six times on the mini circuits in the US.

Harris spent one month practising in Hua Hin before heading to Johor Bahru and was in the country when the Tsunami tragedy struck the region, including Thailand. Hua Hin wasn't affected. The American is also determined to avoid the mistakes he made in the 2003 Qualifying School in Asia.

"I was in the country when it happened and it was a real shock. But Hua Hin was well away from the affected areas," said Harris.

"Two years ago I was well placed after two rounds in the qualifiers but shot a 79 in the third round and eventually finished 70th. I got ahead of myself then and will avoid doing so this time around," said the 30-year-old from Connecticut.

Amongst those in the frame for an Asian Tour card include former Philippine Open champion Felix Casas, who is trying to relaunch his career after a two-year hiatus. The stocky-built Casas shot a 68 at the Allamanda course to lie on 139 in tied 15th position.

A total of 96 players made the halfway cut of 144. The will play another two rounds at the Cempaka course and the top-40 and ties after the final round will earn their cards for the 2005 Asian Tour season.

Leading second round scores

132: Corey Harris (USA) 64-68
133: Ross Bain (Sco) 69-64
135: Kurt Barnes (Aus) 69-66, Jochen Lupprian (Ger) 68-67
136: Matthew Cort (Eng) 68-68, Jin Yong-Gab (Kor) 68-68, Brian Nosler (USA)  68-68, David Bransdon (Aus) 66-70
137: Ron Won (USA) 70-67, Richard Lee (NZL) 69-68, Shannon Jones (Aus) 70-67
138: Shaifubari Muda (Mal) 66-72, Kao Bo-Song (Tpe) 69-69, Paul Marantz (Aus)  68-70.