Korean Choi birdied five of his last six holes for a 6-under-par 64 that tied the course record and gave him a two-shot lead.
Choi capped his sizzling round with a one-foot tap-in for birdie at the 605-yard, par-five ninth after his approach shot nearly fell into the cup. He stood at 7-under-par 133.
Americans Justin Leonard (67), Chris Riley (66) and Bo Van Pelt (66), and Charlie Wi (66) of South Korea shared second place at 5-under-par 135.
Four players were tied on 136, including American Jeff Overton, who fired a 65 to get back into contention.
Scott followed his opening round 66 with a 1-over 71 and was at 3-under 137, a total he shared with Americans Rickie Fowler and Joe Ogilvie.
Choi, who missed the cut in his last start at the US Open two weeks ago, caught fire on Aronimink's front nine after beginning his morning round at the 10th.
His final birdie matched the 64 shot by 2010 champion Justin Rose of Britain in the second round last year.
Choi said he had not been aware what the course record was.
"But as I kept making birdies, I noticed that the reactions of the gallery, the people were very positive and I started feeling that I'm working toward a special round," he said through a translator.
"I'm not really a records kind of guy. I don't really pay attention. My style is just playing hole by hole, trying my best each hole, each shot. When I heard I tied the record, I felt very happy, very pleased about that."
Choi won the inaugural National when it was played at Congressional in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2007.
The tournament was switched to Aronimink a year ago so that Congressional could prepare the course for this year's Open, and it will return to Congressional for the next three years.
Choi will try to become the first player to win the event hosted by Tiger Woods twice and add to his victory earlier this season at the Players Championship.
-ABC/Reuters
Tags: sport, golf, australia, united-states First posted July 2, 2011 10:29:00
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