China team amateur David Wei Wei, Xu Qin and Australian Rowan Beste shared the 36-hole lead on seven-under-par at the RMB1 million Luxehills Golf Championship in Chengdu, the third event of this year's Omega China Tour.
Wei, who opened with a five-under 67, shot a 70 in sweltering conditions and was joined by Xu, who posted a 68, and Beste, who shot a best-of-the -day 65 at the Luxehills International Country Club.
First-round leader Josh Lane carded a 73 to lie a shot back on six-under, one ahead of reigning Omega Order of Merit winner Liao Guiming (71) and Kunming-based Chen Jian (73).
All three co-leaders will be playing in the last group on the Omega China Tour for the first time, with the tournament featuring live television coverage on Saturday and Sunday.
Wei, one of four national team players in the record 150-strong field, is looking to improve on his joint-ninth finish at last September's inaugural Luxehills event, when teammate Zhang Xinjun led after 36 and 54 holes before finishing fourth.
"I hit 17 greens in regulation today, which I'm happy about. However, I didn't putt too well, so I didn't score as low," said the powerfully built 27-year-old.
"I had fun playing with Chen Jian for two days as we're good friends. I'm now looking forward to the weekend, as I enjoy playing in front of big crowds."
The colourful Xu, who idolises Ian Poulter's fashion sense and hairstyle, enjoyed another fast start to his round, bagging birdies on holes three, four, seven and eight before running in 10 straight pars.
"My irons and putting were good, but I don't hit it long enough off the tee," said the slimline Xu, who wore a matching bright-purple shirt and cap.
"It's great to shoot under par both days. I shared the lead after the first round of the Omega Championship (last October), but this is my first time in the lead after two days, which shows some progress."
Beste, one of nine PGA Tour of Australasia pros at Luxehills, enjoyed a bogey-free round of 65 that matched Lane's first-round score. The 28-year-old, an Asian Tour player in 2006 and 2007, kick-started his round with an eagle on his fifth hole, the par-four 14th, after holing out with his nine-iron.
The Queenslander then hit the flag-stick with a seven-iron on the par-four 15th, but was only able to two-putt for par. A birdie on 17 and a hat-trick of birdies from the par-five first hole took him six-under and he finished with a 15-foot birdie putt on the ninth.
"I hit 17 greens again today, but the difference was I hit the ball closer to the pins and gave myself more straight putts," said Beste, who played in China while competing on the Asian Tour.
"I was also a bit more aggressive with my putting and the greens rolled better in the morning. I've always liked the courses in China. They're great venues and well set up. Luxehills has some of the best practice facilities I've seen in Asia."
Lane started with a double-bogey at the par-five first but remained confident after his one-over round and expected to be among those contending for the trophy on Sunday.
"I actually felt like I was swinging better today, but just seemed to be half a club out on all my approaches, which meant I had longer putts," said Lane, 33. "I'm definitely in with a shout, especially if I can make that my bad round of the week."
(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2009)
