SEOUL: Australian Brett Rumford, looking to go one better than his second place last year, shot a flawless nine-under-par 63 to take a three-shot lead midway through the $2.8 million Ballantine's Championship Friday. The 33-year-old bagged four birdies on his outward nine and added five on the way home for a 10-under total of 134 after two rounds to top the leaderboard from Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Dane Soren Kjeldsen, who shared second on seven-under. World No. 1 Lee Westwood just missed an eight-foot putt for an eagle at his final hole and had to be satisfied with a 68 and a share of 11th, six shots off the pace. “I struck a little bit of magic out there today and it's great to have these shots up your sleeve going into the weekend,” Rumford, who is seeking his fourth European Tour title at the co-sanctioned event, told reporters. Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez finished his round with two successive birdies for a 67, while Dane Soren Kjeldsen picked up five shots on his back nine to card a 66. Ireland's overnight leader Damien McGrane bogeyed two of his last four holes to slump to a par 72 and a tie for fourth on six-under with Britons Rhys Davies and James Morrison. World No. 12 Dustin Johnson was a shot further back tied for seventh with three others after struggling with his putting on the firm greens at the Blackstone Golf Course. Three-time major winner Ernie Els hit a second successive 73 to miss the cut along with local Yang Yong-eun, South Korea and Asia's only major winner, and Britain's world number 17 Ian Poulter. The tournament is co-sanctioned by the European, Asian and Korean Tours. Bubba Watson, Matt Jones share Zurich Classic lead In Louisiana, Australia's Matt Jones chipped in from 57 feet on his final hole for a 6-under 66 and a share of the first-round lead with Bubba Watson Thursday in the Zurich Classic. Watson, the winner at Torrey Pines in late January, two-putted from 32 feet for eagle on the par-5 11th and had six birdies and two bogeys at TPC Louisiana. He entered the tournament as a favor to his mother. Jones had eight birdies and two bogeys. Playing the back nine first, he reeled off four consecutive birdies beginning at the par-4 16th. He followed with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th, an 11-footer on the 18th and a 20-foot putt on the first. Watson and Jones played in the afternoon in better scoring conditions after a strong north wind made morning play more difficult. Joe Durant, Tommy Gainey, Carl Pettersson, John Rollins, Nick O'Hern and David Duval opened with 67s. Durant played in the morning. Luke Donald shot a 68 to match Matt Bettencourt, Webb Simpson, Jason Dufner, Charles Howell and 2002 winner K.J. Choi. Hilton Head winner Brandt Snedeker opened with a 77. He had a triple bogey on the par-3 ninth when he hit his tee shot in the water. Rickie Fowler and Steve Stricker shot 70s, US Open champion Graeme McDowell had a 73, and Vijay Singh opened with a 74. Singh, critical of the Pete Dye-designed layout, had a double bogey on the 18th hole.
