Harrington stays in touch after 67

Frankie Minoza of the Philippines added to his remarkable feats at Singapore Island Country Club by breaking the course record to take the halfway lead in the $850,000 Singapore Masters.

The Filipino number one fired a brilliant 10-under-par 61 over the Bukit Course to lead the tournament on 17under-par 125 by two shots from Fijian Vijay Singh.

Singh, winner of last week's Malaysian Open, returned a 63 as did Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, who is three strokes further back.

First round leader Padraig Harrington carded a 67 and is tied with Prayad. Scotland's Colin Montgomerie also came in with a 67 and is eight off the lead.

Minoza, who first played at Singapore Island as a junior in the mid-1970s, boasts a record at the club that is second to none.

In 1998 he won the Rolex Masters here and he's twice finished runner-up in the Singapore Open at this venue. Early in his career he also won the individual title in the Putra Cup here, which is Asia's top amateur team competition.

"Today I just kept things going. I did not expect this one. I cannot believe I shot 61," said Minoza, who had five birdies in-a-row en route to a back nine of seven-under-par 29.

Minoza has spent most of the last decade playing in Japan, where he has won five times. "At the weekend I will just play my normal game and see what happens. I have played with Vijay (Singh) before - it is nice to play with Vijay. He works so hard and is playing so well," said Minoza, who has birdied all four par fives each day.

Like Minoza, Masters champion Singh carded his second bogey free round to line up another exciting battle at the weekend.

"It was a good start. I birdied three out of the first four holes so anytime you start like that you feel very confident especially after shooting a 64 on the first day. I didn't get in any trouble, hit a lot of greens and made a lot of putts," said Singh.

Prayad, a four-time winner on the Asian PGA Tour, found some form after a couple of disappointing weeks.

"I was feeling rundown at the Thailand Masters earlier this month and in Malaysia last week my fingers and arms were painful. But I am feeling good this week," said Prayad.

The halfway cut was made at three-under-par 139.