HONG KONG: A rare earthquake rattled the Hong Kong Open Golf Tournament Friday, jolting some of the world's top players and prompting alarmed residents in the city to call local authorities. There were no reports of any damage or casualties as a result of the 2.8-magnitude quake, which struck in the middle of the afternoon around 30 km north of Hong Kong, near the Chinese city of Shenzhen. “I felt it on the 14th tee box and, to be honest, my legs were like jelly over the tee shot. (I've) never felt one of those before,” said world No. 10 Rory McIlroy, who was in a thrilling chase with England's Ian Poulter for the second-round lead in the 2.5 million dollar tournament. “I bent over on the 14th tee and wondered what it was,” said world No. 14 Poulter, the clubhouse leader after the second round. “I was just about to peg my ball up so I did feel a little tremor.” Poulter recorded a round of 60 to move one shot clear of the field with a two-round total of 13-under but missed out on setting a new record around the Fanling course due to the implementation of the preferred lies ruling. “I hit 61 in Italy in 2002 or 2003 – 2002 I think – so it's my lowest round of golf to date, so I would have to rate it up there. I had a lot of chances today and I could have holed a couple more but it's a good round of golf.” Poulter is one shot ahead of American Anthony Kang with Simon Dyson and Rory McIlroy in a tie for third, another shot back. McIlroy looked set to go into the third round with at least a share of the lead as he led Poulter by a shot on the 18th. But the 21-year-old Northern Irishman recorded a double-bogey at the last, putting his second shot in the lake in front of the green after miss-hitting his attempt out of the fairway bunker. Overnight leader Mark Brown slipped back down the leader board. Seventeen-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero is tied for fifth place on 10-under after a round of 63 left him level with four others, including US Open champion Graeme McDowell. John Daly hit a round of 66 to finish on five-under for 36 holes to guarantee his participation for the rest of the weekend, finishing three shots clear of the halfway cut of one
