Sandelin on the right course

Jarmo Sandelin, without a win in over two years, is poised to end his drought after taking the lead in the BMW Asian Open in Taiwan.

Sandelin, whose last victory in the 1999 German Open sealed his Ryder Cup place at Brookline, carded a 66 at Ta Shee to lie six under.

His round could have been even better as he came within inches of an albatross on the par-five sixth and a hole in one on the 18th that would have won him a luxury-car. As it is, the 34-year-old is one in front of Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez (69) and two ahead of pre-tournament favourites Josè Maria Olazabal and Vijay Singh.

They shot 69s and were joined late on by another Swede, Carl Petterson (68).

Nick Faldo moved to within sight of the lead after firing a two-under-par 70 that put him one-under overall.

Meanwhile, Ernie Els is tucked in just behind leader Scott Laycock after today's second round of the Australian Open on the Gold Coast.

South African Els and fellow overnight leader Rod Pampling, who both shot 70s, were joined on five under by anotherAussie, Geoff Ogilvy, who smashed the course record with his six-under-par 66.

But then Laycock holed a 30-footer for a birdie at the last to post a five-under 66 and sneak ahead of the field.