Chinese star Liang Wenchong and Australian Andrew Martin shot six-under 65 to share the second-round lead at eight-under at the Midea China Classic yesterday.
Australian Stephen Leaney, the 2003 US Open runner-up, carded a 69 and South Korean Park Jun-bum shot 66 to go six-under at the Royal Orchid International south of Guangzhou, in the third event of the inaugural OneAsia season.
First-round leader Craig Scott (72), fellow Aussie Brad McIntosh and China national team amateur Kevin Huang Wenyi (68) finished five-under, one ahead of South Koreans Park Jae-kyung (69) and Sung Sea-woo (72) and Irishman Eddie Barr (72).
Liang showed the form that made him Asia’s No. 1 in 2007 by hitting a bogey-free round.
The 31-year-old crowd favorite opened with a birdie on his first hole, the 10th, before a 35-foot putt on the par-three 15th started a run of five birdies in six holes.
Martin, the 2004 Australian Amateur champion, bogeyed holes two and three, but a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-four fifth started a run of eight birdies in 11 holes, including four in a row from 12.
■MERCEDES-BENZ MASTERS
AFP, JAKARTA
Thailand’s Kwanchai Tannin was one round away from victory at the Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia yesterday, as he notched up a four-shot lead after the third round.
A win at the Emeralda Golf and Country Club, where he shot a three-under 69 for a tournament total of 12-under 204, would be the biggest victory of his fledgling career.
His compatriot, Wisut Artjanawat, who started the day sharing the lead, shot a 73 to tie for second with Indonesian Johannes Dermawan.
Kwanchai got off to a bad start on the first when he hit his second shot with a seven wood into water and then three-putted for a double-bogey seven, but six birdies helped put him in control. He has won two titles on the Thai domestic tour, but victory today would be his most significant win.
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