Meen Whee Kim ahead by 1 at Q School

La Quinta, CA – Meen Whee Kim carded a 9-under-par 63 on Thursday to grab a 1-stroke lead after two rounds of the PGA Tour Qualifying School.

Kim sits at 13-under 131, while former PGA Tour winner Vaughn Taylor is alone in second place after firing a 64 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course.

The 6-round event has players competing for three rounds each on the Stadium Course and the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West.

The top 25 and ties at the end of the event will receive PGA Tour cards for 2013, and the next 50, plus ties, will earn Web.com Tour cards.

Overnight leader Steve LeBrun tallied a 69 to fall into a share of third place with Richard H. Lee (67).

LeBrun has spent much of his career on the Web.com Tour and his best career finish on that circuit was earlier this year, when he took fourth at the Miccosukee Championship. He finished 56th on the Web.com Tour money list in 2012.

Robert Karlsson, an 11-time winner on the European Tour, shot 68 on Thursday. At 10-under, he is joined in fifth place by former PGA Tour winner Daniel Chopra (66), former Web.com Tour victor Edward Loar (69), Morgan Hoffmann (67) and Adam Crawford (68).

Kris Blanks, another former Web.com Tour winner, highlights a group of four deadlocked at 9-under.

Erik Compton, a two-time heart transplant recipient, is 7-under through 36 holes -- good for a 23rd-place tie with a large group which also includes three-time PGA Tour winner Camilo Villegas.

Defending Q School champion Brendon Todd is tied for 39th place after carding rounds of 70 and 69.

NOTES: This 6-round marathon goes until Monday ... D.J. Trahan, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, withdrew on Thursday ... He carded rounds of 75 and 73.