Chawalit Plaphol grabbed the second round lead alongside three other golfers at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Scotsman Colin Montgomerie and Sweden's Johan Edfors were a stroke back when the duo shot matching 65s in joint fifth place. Australia's Marcus Fraser also leaped to a tie for fifth spot after a 66 together with Richard Sterne of South Africa who posted a 69 and Italian Francesco Molinari who carded a 67.

India's Jeev Milkha Singh, who virtually sealed the 2008 Asian Tour's Order of Merit after his win in Singapore last week, blasted a 63 to lie in joint 10th place together with Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang who recorded a 69 for a 134 total. China's Liang Wen-chong endured a slow 71 and was in the mix in 13th spot after a 135 total.

Chawalit, who is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, relied on his accurate drives to steer him through to the top of the pack in the US$2.5 million event.

"I tried to not use my driver. I did not play too aggressive. I wanted to make sure that I could be on the green so I could have a chance at making those birdies," said the Chonburi-based player. Chawalit was pleased to have turned his game around this week since his top-10 finish at the Worldwide Selangor Masters in August.

"I have not been having a good run on the Asian Tour so this is definitely turning out to be a great week. There is a lot of pressure to perform but I will try my best for a strong finish," added Chawalit.

Starting on the back nine, Oosthuizen, 26, was four under after nine holes before three straight birdies coupled with a final birdie on the seventh hole placed him in prime position heading into the weekend rounds.

"It was good. I don't want to say it could have been more, but I played well. I hit 17 greens in regulation, and I made some putts," said Oosthuizen, with three wins on the local circuit.

Ryder Cup star Wilson, who teed off on the back nine, endured a bogey on the final hole before closing in with a 66.

"I was really happy with yesterday, four under, but today I was a little disappointed bogeying the last hole. I played pretty steady holing some putts, which is the important thing," said Wilson.

Fisher improved with a 65 and was in the mix at the top of the field.

"I just played really solid today. I hit the ball well and hit a lot of greens and took my chances. It was good. I'm in a good position going into the weekend and just go out there and enjoy it and have good time," said Fisher.

Montgomerie, with a record 31 wins in Europe, was pleased with his 65 while a stroke back was Singh who conquered the greens at the Hong Kong Golf Club this week.

"The putting came together. Yesterday I hit the ball exactly the same but couldn't hole too many putts. But I'm really excited. I worked on it yesterday and got a little bit of feel on the greens. I went out there and holed some big putts, and I think that was the reason I shot a 63 today," said Singh, who was the 2006 Asian Tour's Order of Merit winner.

"I am mentally very tired, but after this round, I think that I start thinking about other things and as the weekend comes, I think the mental tiredness is going to go. I think I've got to start thinking about good things and hopefully have a good week again," he added.

Local amateur Jason Hak Shun Yat emerged as the second youngest player to make the cut on the Asian Tour at 14 years and 304 days. He fired two straight 70s and was in a tie for 61st place. Chinese Taipei's Lo Shih-kai was the youngest player to have ever made the weekend rounds at 14 years and 275 days back in 2003.

Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain was also in a tie for 61st place after a 69.

Leading second round scores
132 - Oliver Wilson (ENG) 66-66, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 70-62, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 66-66, Oliver Fisher (ENG) 67-65
133 - Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 68-65, Richard Sterne (RSA) 64-69, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 66-67, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 67-66, Johan Edfors (SWE) 68-65
134 - Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 65-69, Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 71-63, Rory Mcilroy (NIR) 70-64
135 - Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (FRA) 69-66, Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 64-71
136 - Iain Steel (MAS) 68-68, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 70-66, Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 68-68, John Daly (USA) 68-68, Bernhard Langer (GER) 69-67, Angelo Que (PHI) 68-68, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 69-67
137 - Artemio Murakami (PHI) 67-70, Jarmo Sandelin (SWE) 70-67, Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP) 69-68, Darren Beck (AUS) 68-69, Pelle Edberg (SWE) 69-68, Peter Hanson (SWE) 67-70, Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 68-69, David Frost (RSA) 69-68, Frankie Minoza (PHI) 65-72, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 70-67, David Dixon (ENG) 68-69, Martin Rominger (SUI) 71-66, Tony Carolan (AUS) 70-67, David Gleeson (AUS) 72-65, Wang Ter-Chang (TPE) 66-71, Kim Kyung-tae (KOR) 70-67