COLIN Montgomerie rode his luck to the top of the Johnnie Walker Classic leaderboard yesterday and then vowed not to rest on his laurels over the final two rounds of Asia's biggest golfing extravaganza.
Despite finishing third on last year's European Order of Merit, the 29-year-old Scotsman failed to win a tournament - a fact that still rankles with him and a record he is anxious to end at this week's US$850,000 event. ''I have been close so many times, but possibly I've sat back when leading,'' admitted Montgomerie after firing a three-under-par 67 over the Singapore Island Country Club's Bukit Course.
That gave the European Ryder Cup player a 36-hole aggregate of 135 and a share of top place with England's world number one Nick Faldo. They are one shot clear of South African Ernie Els and South Korea's Choi Sang-ho. Scotland's Sam Torrance is fifth on 137 after blazing his way to a course record 64 with American world number two Fred Couples and Peter Senior of Australia in joint sixth on 138.
Thailand's Boonchu Ruangkit - joint overnight leader with Faldo, Senior and Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke - shot a 72 and is level with Australian Greg Norman and Frankie Minoza of the Philippines in joint eighth on 139.
Welshman Ian Woosnam is a further stroke back after a day when scores improved from the first round and the half-way cut for the leading 65 players and ties came at 145. Defending champion Ian Palmer of South Africa made it through on 144 after a second successive 72, while Irishman Clarke squeezed in on 145 after a 78 - 11 shots worse than his opening-day effort.
Among those to miss out were Seve Ballesteros. The Spaniard, who will make his Hongkong debut in next week's Kent Open at Fanling, could only manage a 76 for a total of 147. Despite continued steamy conditions, scoring generally was lower. In addition to Torrance's 64, Els and Couples both returned 65s.