Derksen and Zhang share Shanghai lead

SHANGHAI, China -- Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen and Chinese veteran Zhang Lianwei share the halfway lead at the Asian Open after many of the big names failed to master the strong winds at the tight Tomson Pudong course in Shanghai.

Zhang, 42, sunk a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th to card a three-under 69 and match Derksen, who fired the same score earlier in the day, on five-under 139.

Derksen had five birdies and two bogeys in his round while Zhang shot three birdies and did not drop a stroke.

A shot further back is Irishman Darren Clarke, who also shot a round of 69, despite a bogey six at the second.

Derksen, winner of two European Tour events, said the winds made the second round challenging. "Putting has been good this week and that is a key, and if I can continue then I should have a chance Sunday," he said.

The 42-year-old Zhang is aiming to become the first home winner of the tournament. He had previously won a European Tour event -- the Singapore Masters in 2003.

"I'm proud of the Olympics coming up in August and I'm glad to see a few Chinese players on top of the leaderboard," Zhang said. "It's nice, and compared to the past, it's a very exciting weekend coming up. I'm going to try my best for the gold. If I can pick up a medal on Sunday, I'll be very happy."

Overnight leader Peter O'Malley from Australia is at three-under after following his opening round of 67 with a 74, and shares fourth position with Englishman Miles Tunnicliffe, who shot a 70 on Friday.

Henrik Stenson, the world number 13 and the top ranked player in Shanghai, was one of the many star players to succumb to the heavy winds that made life extra tough.

After starting the day at four-under, he carded a 76 to leave himself on even-par for the tournament. With so much high scoring the cut was at three-over 147.

Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, who finished 25th at the Masters two weeks ago, was also on four-under at the start of the day and suffered exactly the same fate as Stenson.

Zhang fired three birdies on the back nine to delight the local fans, while 18-year-old Chinese amateur Hu Mu created extra buzz with a round of 69 to put himself in the top 10 going into the weekend.

Hu, who is based in the United States and coached by swing guru David Leadbetter, is on two-under, alongside yet another Chinese player, last year's Asian Order of Merit winner Liang Wenchong.

One of the main dangers for the Chinese contingent is two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa, who went round in 70 to be on two- under alongside Hu and Liang.

New Zealand's Mark Brown, this season's Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, is also on two-under after the best round of the day, a five-under 67 that included a stretch of seven birdies in eight holes.

Former world number one Greg Norman of Australia shot a 73 to be level par. E-mail to a friend