Jeev soars to tied 3rd, Wie creates history in Korea

Incheon, May 5 (UNI) Jeev Milkha Singh's scintillating six-under 66 saw him soaring to tied third even though it was teenage sensation Michelle Wie who made history at the SK Telecom Open, making the halfway cut for the first time against the men after a sizzling three-under 69 in the second round.

Wie became the first woman since Babe Didrikson Zaharias in 1945 to make the cut on a men's international Tour, here today.

Meanwhile, all the Indians -- Jeev, Harmeet Kahlon and Amandeep Johl made the cut in the tournament.

Thailand's Prom Meesawat and Iain Steel of Malaysia lead the 600,000 dollar Asian Tour event at the halfway stage with an 11-under 133 total but the 16-year-old Wie was the darling of the crowd and is tied 17th on 139 heading into the weekend.

In her eighth attempt against the men at the Sky 72 Golf Club, Wie's round included four birdies against a lone bogey.

''I cannot believe that I have made the cut. I have the flu and it's much better so that's why I will try better tomorrow,'' said a delighted Wie.

Wie is the fifth woman golfer to play on the Asian Tour, with Laura Davies of England and Japan's Ai Miyazato being the other high profile players who tried their luck against the men.

Jeev Milkha Singh, winner of Volvo China Open last month, is clearly in top form as he fired a sizzling seven birdies against a lone bogey to a two-day total of 10-under 134 and is one shot behind joint leaders Prom Meesawat and Iain Steel.

''The conditions this morning was very calm compared to yesterday.

Yesterday it was quite windy in the afternoon,'' Jeev later said.

''I'm feeling pretty good and confident now. I'm going to play each round as it comes. I'm not going to go out there and push myself. I'll play it shot by shot. I hit a few balls in the morning in peace and did not have to hurry today as I knew where the driving range was so that was good,'' he added.

Harmeet Kahlon fired a three-under 69 to join, among others Wie at tied 17th while Amandeep Johl (144) finished tied 64th after his round of two-under 70.

Leading first round scores: 133 - Prom Meesawat (THA), Iain Steel (MAS) 134 - Jeev Milkha Singh (IND), Lee Seong-ho (KOR) 135 - Chapchai Nirat (THA), Brad Kennedy (AUS) 136 - Lee Won-jun (A) (KOR), Adam Le Vesconte (AUS) 137 - Hong Soon-sang (KOR), Kang Kyung-nam (KOR) 138 - Choi Ho-sung (KOR), Terry Pilkadaris (AUS), Mo Joong-kyung (KOR), Anthony Kang (USA), Lu Wei-lan (TPE), Choi Jin-ho (KOR) UNI XC AY PG BD1805