Thursday December 10, 2009, 04:27 PM

South Korean In Kyung Kim finished two shots clear of American Michelle Wie after the second round of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on Thursday.

Kim shot a seven-under-par 65 on a beautiful day at the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club. She carded seven birdies and finished at nine-under-par for the tournament, with Wie in outright second after a solid round of 68.

The world number 13, Kim, 21, started her campaign with a two-under 70 on Wednesday but picked up the pace with birdies at the 10th, 12th, 15th, second, fifth, seventh and eighth holes.

She may be visiting Dubai for the first time, but she is joined by a caddie who has previously worked for a two-time winner of the event.

Terry McNamara worked as Annika Sorenstam's bagman when she won the tournament in both 2006 and 2007, as well as at her farewell tournament in 2008.

Kim, who started the day in a share of eighth place, admitted that his help was invaluable.

"I think he has a little different yardage because Annika hits it further than I do. But he won here twice and he won the par 3 event twice. I think I have the right caddie here," she said.

Kim has earned over two million dollars since turning pro in 2006. She clinched her first victory on the LPGA at the 2008 Longs Drugs Challenge and in 2009 she beat Se Ri Pak by one stroke to secure her second victory at the State Farm Classic.

She said that the key to her round was accurate club selection.

"I had the right numbers and had some good shots into the greens. I was very pleased."

Wie teed off late and started the day in a tie for fifth, three shots behind Maria Hjorth of Sweden. After seeing the target set by Kim, she made an early charge and birdied her first three holes.

"I kind of went out there, I saw the scoring was really low and I was like, I have to start out like this, you know. So I just kind of went out there and it kind of worked out," Wie said.

The 20-year-old world number 12, who won her first pro tournament at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational last month, dropped a shot at the sixth hole when her second shot found a bunker.

She sank birdie putts on the 10th and 12th holes, before three putting at the 13th for a bogey. She holed a long birdie putt on the 400-yard par-four 14th hole, but missed a four-footer for birdie on 17.

She said: "I missed a couple of short ones out there. Definitely going to work on that today, and hopefully that won't happen tomorrow."

South Korean Amy Yang remained in contention after a round of 70 and shared third at six-under with Tania Elosegui. The 28-year-old Spaniard used a seven iron to ace the 160-yard, par-3, seventh hole for the second hole-in-one of her career.

© 2009 AFP/sid