THOUSAND OAKS, California: South Korean Yang Yong-eun shrugged off the effects of a severe head cold to burst two shots clear of a congested leaderboard in the Chevron World Challenge second round on Friday.

Yang, who won his first major title after overhauling Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship in August, fired a sparkling seven-under-par 65 on another benign day of sunshine at Sherwood Country Club.

Helped by a chip-in from greenside rough to birdie the par-three 15th, the Korean posted a nine-under total of 135 in the limited field event usually hosted by world No.1 Woods. Woods pulled out of the event on Monday, citing injuries from a car crash outside his Florida home last week as speculation began to escalate over his private life.

Yang covered the back nine in a flawless three-under 33, his birdie at the 15th putting him a stroke in front of Irishman Padraig Harrington and Britain’s Ian Poulter before he ended the day with a two-shot cushion.

Harrington carded a 68 to join Poulter (69) and American veteran Kenny Perry (65) at seven under with former Masters champion Zach Johnson, co-leader overnight with Poulter, among three players a further stroke back after a 70.

Scott leads Appleby

In Sydney, Adam Scott birdied the last two holes of a marathon Saturday to snatch a two-shot lead after the third round of the Australian Open at the New South Wales course.

Scott went out early to finish off the last 12 holes of his second round, which was left incomplete after heavy winds on Friday, with a 66, then returned after lunch to shoot a 67 for the third round.

His three round total of 15-under-par 201 left him with a two stroke lead over the 2001 Australian open champion Stuart Appleby, who carded a third round 71.

Nick O’Hern was a further five shots back at 8-under, one ahead of James Nitties and two in front of American David Oh, the only non-Australian within 10 shots of the lead.

Scott has never won a professional title on Australian soil and, like Appleby, has struggled on the US PGA Tour this season but said winning his national open would make up for all his disappointments.

Scott went 39 holes without dropping a shot before he threw away his advantage with bogeys at the 15th and 16th holes.

However, he recovered with two late birdies to regain the outright lead and set the stage for a two-way battle with Appleby on Sunday.

Chan on top

In Khonkaen, Thailand, Taiwan’s Chan Yih-shin produced a superb back nine performance to open up a two-stroke lead after the third round of the King’s Cup on Saturday.

Chan romped home in 32 on his way to a five-under-par 67 to lead the $300,000 Asian Tour event on 12-under-par 204.

Scotsman Simon Yates charged into contention with an impressive 66 and was joined in second place by India’s Rahil Gangjee, who signed for a 68 at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club. Nick Redfern and Mark Purser are four strokes off the lead on 208 after rounds of 68 and 65 respectively in the King’s Cup, the final event of the Asian Tour season.

After holing a chip-in eagle from 95 yards on the par-four fourth hole, the 32-year-old Chan increased his lead with a stunning 45-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole to give himself a huge boost in his hunt for a maiden Asian Tour title.

Thai-based Yates turned in 36 but burst into life with a superb back nine performance, sprinkling his card with six birdies over a seven-hole stretch after the turn.

Gangjee, who won his maiden Asian Tour title in 2004, was beaming after returning a bogey-free card which included four birdies. A good performance this week has also eased his worries of keeping his Tour card where he is currently in 63rd place on the Order of Merit.

Purser produced the round of the day, shooting five birdies and an eagle to move into contention.