Amandeep Johl overcame a poor start to fire a one-under 71 and tie for tenth place after two rounds in the Asian Tour Maekyung Open golf at Nam Seoul Country club in Seoul on Friday.

India's other challenger Shiv Kapur had a rough day and barely managed to make the cut after a four-over 76.

Kapur totalled five-over 149, which was right on the cut line. He is tied 56th.

Meanwhile, Korean stalwart Choi Sang-ho opened up a four-shot lead at the halfway stage of the US $500,000 event after a two-under-par 70 in the second round.

The 50-year-old overnight leader, who opened his campaign with a 66, produced another steady display to knock in four birdies against two dropped shots and leads on eight-under-par 136.

Korean amateur Kim Kyung-tae produced an impressive 69 to trail on 140 while Australian Marcus Both overcame a mid-round wobble to end the day in third place, a further stroke back.

Johl, who took time off last week, opened with bogeys on first and third holes. But birdies on the fifth and sixth and then yet another on ninth saw him turn in one-under.

On the home stretch, he bogeyed the 11th and 17th, but made up with birdies on the 13th and on the closing hole.

"With a few more putts falling, things could get better," said Johl, who was a member of Asia's Dynasty Cup winning team.

Kapur had a tough day at the course. He had just two birdies on the fourth and 15th and dropped shots on first, sixth and eighth on the front nine and then again on 12^th before double-bogeying the par-five 16th to end the day at four-over 76.

Still he managed to squeeze inside the cut line with clutch pars on the last two holes. He now has two days to improve on his standings in the Open.

Asia's Visa Dynasty Cup team heroes Amandeep Johl of India, who was the runner-up here two years ago, and Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit were amongst those on 143 and they will head into the weekend rounds seven shots behind the leader.

American Edward Loar, the reigning Korean Open champion , carded a 70 to also lie on 143.

The halfway cut was set at 149, with 70 players progressing into the weekend rounds. The Maekyung Open is the 14th leg of this season's Asian Tour.

Leading second round scores: 136 - Choi Sang-ho (KOR) 66-70, 140 - Kim Kyung-tae [A] (KOR) 71-69, 141 - Marcus Both (AUS) 71-70, 142 - Kim Hae-dong [A] (KOR) 75-67, Alejandro Quiroz (MEX) 70-72, Sung Si-woo (KOR) 72-70, David Oh (USA) 71-71, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 71-71, Park Do-kyu (KOR) 72-70, 143 - Chris Rodgers (ENG) 71-72, Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 72-71, Amandeep Johl (IND) 72-71, Mike Capone (USA) 76-67, Cho Chan-hee (KOR) 73-70, Edward Loar (USA) 73-70, Hur In-hoi [A] (KOR) 74-69, Park Boo-won (KOR) 71-72.

Other Indian scores: 149 Shiv Kapur 73, 76 (tied 56th).