European and US Tours:Defending champion KJ Choi fired a hat-trick of early birdies on his way to a share of the clubhouse lead during the second round at the Pods Championship yesterday.
Choi recovered from a bogey on his second hole with birdies at the next three en route to a 69 on the demanding Innisbrook course.
That gave the Korean a four-under halfway total of 138 which was matched by Vaughn Taylor (68) and Doug LaBelle (71), one stroke better than Arron Oberholser (72) with half the field back in the clubhouse.
Vijay Singh, the only player in the world's top taking part, was challenging for the lead until three late bogeys left him two shots off the pace.
CHALLENGE TOUR: Liam Bond continued his adventures in Africa by venturing into welcome unchartered territory at the halfway stage of the Tusker Kenya Open in Nairobi.
After opening rounds of 68 and 67 and a five-under-par 135 aggregate at the Karen Golf Club, the Welshman is leading a Challenge Tour event for the first time in his 21 years as a professional, with a two-stroke advantage over Frenchman Julien Grillon and Italy's Edoardo Molinari.
The Irish trio of Michael McGeady, Michael Hoey and Stephen Browne all missed the cut. McGeady shot 72 for 148, Hoey 76 for 152 and Browne 81 for 155.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: A hat-trick of birdies from the 13th, after starting at the 10th, helped Des Smyth to turn in four-under-par in Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach CC in California yesterday.
In the lead mid-way through the first round were Eduardo Romero and Fuzzy Zoeller at five-under-par.
