Golf-Rumford hits 63 to lead Ballantine’s at halfway (Reuters)

SEOUL, April 29 (Reuters) - 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 on 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 number one 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.     

"I'm in a position now to be thinking (about a win), for
sure," he added. "At the beginning of the week, maybe not so. I
haven't come into this week with great form but this is a fickle
game and it changes from week to week." 

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 number 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.       

"I'm rolling it good and they look like they're going in,
but are just barely missing," the tall American, a four times
winner on the U.S. PGA Tour, said after signing for a 69.       

"If I'd made a few in the last couple of days then I'd be
right up there in the lead. I just need to get some putts going
early in the round tomorrow and hopefully feed off that."       

Three-times 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.           

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Alastair
Himmer) 

(For the
sports blog Left Field go to: http://blogs.reuters.com/sport))  

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