Koreans out in front at halfway point in China as Kim leads Yang by a shot

Yang, who finished eighth at the Masters last week, embarked on a back-nine birdie blitz to close on his equally in-form but lesser known compatriot.

With Kim topping the second round leaderboard at 11-under-par after a three-under 69, Yang closed with four consecutive birdies for a six-under-par 66 to earn a share of second alongside Asian No1 Thongchai Jaidee and Welshman Jamie Donaldson.

Thongchai battled his usually reliable putter to card a two-under 70, while Donaldson posted six birdies in a 68 to improve to ten-under-par overall, a shot clear of Spain's Pablo Larrazabal (69) and Finland's Mikko Illonen (67).

Yang was forced to scramble for par at the last to concede just one bogey on his second circuit after hitting his approach into a deep greenside pot bunker which are a feature of the links style back nine.

"I managed to score quite well despite the conditions yesterday and today the conditions were more friendly and I was able to be a little bit more aggressive," said the 38-year-old, who opened with a first round 68. "I think the crucial hole for me was the birdie at number nine as it opened the gate to the back nine performance."

While Yang saved par at his final hole of a bright but breezy second day, Kim will hope his only dropped shot of the day after misjudging the wind into the final green will not become a factor over the weekend.

The 21-year-old is looking to follow up a third place at the Luxehills Chengdu Open at the start of April and a maiden victory on the Korean Tour at the SBS Tomato Open just last week.

"I thought I would be quite nervous as it is a big tournament but I am very comfortable after two rounds," said the 2006 Asian Games gold medallist."

Donaldson, who finished sixth at the Open de Andalucia in Malaga at the end of March, raised hopes of a maiden European Tour title as last year's SAS Masters runner-up continues to turn his game around after losing his card in 2006.

"I played well in Malaga and last year was great and I am ready to win. I have been playing some good golf and I have just got to keep doing the same stuff and hopefully it will happen," said Donaldson, who posted three other top-ten finishes in 2009. Former Open Champion Paul Lawrie was the only one of the Scots contingent not to make the cut as he followed his opening 74 with a 71 yesterday. But Alastair Forsyth and Stephen Gallacher both made it through to the weekend, while leading the group was Marc Warren who added a 68 to his first round 71 to sit on five-under.

One shot back were Peter Whiteford after his second consecutive 70, and Colin Montgomerie who posted 68 yesterday to move to four-under. Montgomerie's opposite number for this year's Ryder Cup, US captain Corey Pavin, sat eighth in the tournament on seven-under after following his opening 67 with a round of 70 yesterday.