Shanghai, April 20:

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin shot a three-under 69 to open up a three-point lead on Friday over South Korea’s Lee Sung heading into the second half of the Asian Open.

Jacquelin, who led after the second round of last week’s China Open before slipping out of contention, collected five birdies against two bogeys to finish at nine-under 135. Ernie Els, the tournament’s 2005 winner, was seven off the pace at 142 after shooting a second consecutive round of one-under 71. The South African, still looking for his first win of the year, had a pair of birdies on the first two holes before his putting went cold, dropping a shot on the back nine.

Lee shot three birdies and one bogey to sit at six-under 138. Spaniard Miguel-Angel Jimenez, the 2004 China Open winner, launched a methodical assault on the leaders with a blemish-free round of 69. Joakim Backstrom of Sweden (69), Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen (72), Scott Hend of Australia (70), and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie (70) joined Jimenez at five-under 139.

Montgomerie, who missed out on a berth in the playoff at last year’s China Open by a stroke, gave his chances a boost with an eagle three on the par-five 16th hole.

Kyron Sullivan of Wales more than redeemed himself after an opening round 75, blasting a six-under-par 66 to sit at 141 after two rounds. Sullivan sunk an eagle three on the par-four fifth hole on his way to carding six birdies against one bogey.

Crowd favorite John Daly missed the cut after shooting an up and down round of 76 to finish at 11-over-par, while defending champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano remained at one-over-par at 145 after shooting a round of even-par 72.