- Lee continues his blistering form
- Unknown Aussies hunt hard
- Scott and Smith just make it
Golf showman Min Woo Lee begged fans to tone it down before sending the crowds into a frenzy again on an electric afternoon at the Australian Open in Sydney.
Lee is firmly on course to complete a gold-winning double of Australia's two premier summer events after seizing a commanding three-shot lead halfway through the Open with a sublime second-round 64 at The Australian on Friday.
The newly crowned winner of the Australian PGA Championship set the main venue on fire after following the game's new superstar as he holed out from a greenside bunker on the par-3 fourth hole before continuing his birdie blitz with five more plus an eagle in a magical 11-hole stretch.
While he finally capped his round with a smashed-in eagle after bringing his dazzling mid-iron approach from the pine needles to within a yard, the defining moment of Lee's round came on the par-4 16th.
About to putt, Lee retreated, motioning for spectators to remain silent before coolly resetting and emptying a 40-footer, prompting a deafening roar from his legion of fans.
Min Woo Lee followed up his success in Queensland to lead the field at the Australian Open
Cameron Smith had another indifferent day, but did enough to succeed on Saturday
Adam Scott also came into his own late, but also managed to reach the finish at the Australian Open
He thanked the crowd after beating Scot Connor Syme on a truly cosmopolitan leaderboard.
Six different nationalities occupied the top six positions late in the second round.
At 12, Lee appeared to be in control with his three-stroke buffer over Syme, who posted a 70 at The Lakes on Friday morning.
Chilean star Joaquin Niemann and Venezuelan Jhonatan Vegas are both eight under after a pair of 69s at The Lakes.
The eclectic mix of contenders is completed by the Dutchman Lars van Meijel, seven under.
Australians Jeffrey Guan (66, The Lakes) and Sam Jones (67, The Australian) are among a group of players who sit five shots behind Lee.
After being in danger of missing the semi-final, the home heavyweight will be hoping Adam Scott and Cameron Smith have both survived the shock and will head into the final two rounds at The Australian at four under.
Smith ruefully threw a ball into the lake after bogeying the penultimate hole in his three-under 68 playing alongside Lee, while Scott carded a 68 at The Lakes.