CANADIAN Mike Weir blazed through the front nine holes in 30 strokes

yesterday on his way to a course record seven-under-par 66 in the second

round of the South Australian Open over the Royal Adelaide course.

Weir's sparkling display gave him a halfway total of 141, three

strokes behind Australian joint leaders David Diaz and Anthony Painter.

Diaz, who equalled an unofficial world record in the opening round by

completing the first nine holes with just eight putts, shot a

two-under-par 71 while Painter went round in 68.

On a blustery day, Weir collected nine birdies in the space of 11

holes, including seven birdies, in his blistering attack on the opening

nine holes.

''It (his front-nine score) equals the record on the US PGA tour held

by Greg Norman, Tom Kite, Curtis Strange, Payne Stewart and Tom

Watson,'' said tournament media manager Brendan Moloney. ''It is

probably the lowest nine ever shot in Australia.''

The front nine of the Royal Adelaide course is a par 37. Leading

aggregates (Australian unless otherwise stated):

138 -- D Diaz 67, 71; A Painter 70, 68.

139 -- T Elliott 68, 71; J O'Keefe (USA) 68, 71.

140 -- C Gray 68, 72.

141 -- M Weir (Canada) 75, 66.

142 -- A Stolz 73, 69; R Green 73, 69; S Laycock 73, 69; D Ecob 73,

69.

143 -- P O'Malley 73, 70; G Joyner 72, 71; S Scahill (New Zealand) 73,

70; D Iwasaki-Smith 71, 72; O Moore 71, 72; T Price 71, 72; M Long (New

Zealand) 67, 76, M Cain 72, 71.