Derksen has halfway lead in South Korea

JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, April 24 (UPI) -- Robert-Jan Derksen carded a 3-under-par 69 and took a two-shot lead Friday at the halfway mark of Ballantine's Championship in South Korea.

Derksen was at 9-under 135 at the Pinx Golf Club on Jeju Island, where rainy, windy conditions increased the difficulty of the course.

Wook-Soon Kang (69) and Thongchai Jaidee (71) shared second place at 137 in the European Tour-sanctioned event.

"It was a difficult day," Derksen said. "Every par was actually a good hole, and I managed to even squeeze in a few birdies."

First-round co-leader Mark Brown shot a 73 and shared fourth place with Palo Martin (69).

Among players missing the cut was defending champion Graeme McDowell, whose 73 left him at 5-over 149.