Kulacz storms to halfway lead with barrage of birdies

The 24-year-old Perth native secured limited playing rights on the European Tour with a final round 64 at Q-School last year – a round he rates as his best ever given what was at stake – but was handed a spot in the field this week via a sponsor's invite.

The two-time winner on the Asian Tour took full advantage to charge up the leaderboard on 12 under par and clear of Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry and Peter Hanson.

While Kulacz's round, a figure Paul Casey also posted en route to winning last year, is an achievement in itself, it is made more remarkable given the fact he was so unhappy with his pre-tournament practice he needed a phone call to his coach back home on Wednesday to iron out the flaws in his game.

"I was just in the zone. I tried to get it on the green and every putt went in. It was just one of those days where everything went right," said Kulacz, who dropped just one shot in his first-round 69.

"That round is definitely top five in my career. I think the one at Q-School was better under the circumstances; to get to Europe was pretty special."

Kulacz shot a final-round 65 to come from four behind to win the New South Wales Open as an amateur in 2006, while he achieved a first win as a professional courtesy of a chip-in on the first play-off hole at the 2008 Brunei Open.

Irish Open champion Lowry carded a bogey-free seven-under-par 65, world No 13 Garcia dropped just one shot in a 67. Sweden's Hanson went one better with a flawless five-under-par second round over The National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Former champion and last year's runner-up Martin Kaymer (67), Chris Wood, who carded a bogey-free 64, and Rhys Davies (68) are just a further shot off the pace with Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter in a group at nine under.

Defending champion Casey beat the cut with a second-round 69. But European No 1 Lee Westwood crashed out after citing a prolonged Christmas break and a new set of irons as the reasons for his 78 which included six bogeys.

Hull's Richard Finch will be hoping to build on his encouraging start to the tournament.

The 32-year-old, who revealed yesterday to the Yorkshire Post that he is hoping to use a trying 2009 season to his advantage, added a four-under par 68 to the 69 he shot the previous day.

He stands 17th on seven under, five behind the leaders and two ahead of Malton's Simon Dyson, who climbed the leaderboard after a bogey-free 67.

Danny Willett of Rotherham, though, heads to the Qatar Master early after he failed to claw back enough shots following Thursday's 77. He signed for a 73 yesterday.