Laird keeps up the chase with late charge in Hawaii

US OPEN champion Lucas Glover took charge of the PGA Tour's season-opening SBS Championship in Hawaii as Scotland's Martin Laird stayed in touch with a back-nine charge.

Glover had held a one-stroke lead over the 28-man field of 2009 PGA Tour tournament winners with a seven-under-par 66 on Maui and followed up with a 65 to take a three-shot halfway lead from fellow American John Rollins, who shot a 66.

The four-man group four off the pace is headed by Laird, defending champion Geoff Ogilvy and Americans Sean O'Hair and Matt Kuchar.

Glaswegian Laird followed his opening 67 with a five-under 68. The Scot went out in 34, but moved back into contention with a hat-trick of birdies between 13 and 15.

"It was another good day," Laird said. "The bogey on the fourth on Thursday was a three-putt and what it probably did was wake me up to how much attention you've got to pay to 30-footers out here.

"But I did the same as I did on Thursday, I drove it great again and gave myself lots of looks. I didn't putt as well today, that was the only thing, but I probably hit it better."

Meanwhile, Wallace Booth and Lee Harper both passed the first test on the road to the Asian Tour in stage one of the qualifying school in Thailand. But there was disappointment for fellow Scot, Barry Hume, who failed to secure a place in next week's final. Booth finished on four-under 280 and grabbed the 17th of 25 qualifying spots, and Harper squeezed through on the 281 limit. Hume finished 45th on 286.

On the European Tour, South Africans Trevor Fisher junior and Thomas Aiken battled strong winds to share the lead on 16-under-par 203 after the third round of the Africa Open at the East London Golf Club.