Tight leaderboard at Volvo China Open
China No 1 Li Haotong roared up the leaderboard during the second-round play of the Volvo China Open on Friday to grab a share of the lead with Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra and Finland's Tapio Pulkkanen at the 30th edition of the national championship in Shanghai.
With the conditions sunny and calm at Enhance Anting Golf Club, Li got his large gallery charged up when he carded four straight birdies to start his round en route to an eight-under-par 63. Chacarra carded a 67, while overnight leader Pulkkanen needed a birdie at the par-five last for a one-under 70 to maintain a share of the lead.
All three players were on 10-under 132 at the $2.55 million tournament, an event co-sponsored by the DP World Tour and the China Tour.
Germany's Jannik De Bruyn was two strokes back in fourth after a 65, one stroke ahead of China's Dou Zecheng (65).
Defending champion Adrian Otaegui improved to a 66 to sit six shots off the lead in a group of nine player that included 2015 Volvo China Open champion Wu Ashun (70)
Li, who began his early morning round seven shots off the lead, quickly got to work with four consecutive birdies after starting on the back nine. At the 577-yard third, his 12th hole, the Shanghai-based pro made an eagle three when he put his approach to within 15 feet and then converted. He would pick up two more shots with consecutive birdies starting from the sixth hole, his 15th hole, in the hunt for his fifth DP World Tour title.
"Yeah, everything seems going my way today, compared to yesterday. I was very pleased to see this result. My putter's been very, very hot today. I actually got a massive lucky break on the number one tee shot. From there it could have been a double so it is just lucky. I am happy to make a birdie," said the Hunan native, the 2016 Volvo China Open champion.
"I believe everyone has kind of put a high expectation on me, which is good. I kind of enjoy that pressure and support and hopefully I can bring some good stuff on the weekend."
Chacarra, winner of last month's Hero Indian Open, reeled off four consecutive birdies starting from the 348-yard fourth hole, before making his lone bogey at the long par-four ninth. On the back nine, the Spaniard could only muster a birdie at the 200-yard 16th to grab a share of the lead.
"I had a good back nine too," said the Madrid native, nursing a sore thumb which he injured in the love grass on the final hole. "The short game was solid. The pins were a little trickier. The greens were getting a little firmer in the afternoon and with the wind picking up I played a little more conservative."
Pulkkanen, playing in the second to last group of the day, could not build on his opening-round 62, carding four birdies and three bogeys.
"The front nine was pretty tough for me. I didn't have too many chances. The back nine I started well, I hit some good shots on 12, 13, 14 and 15. I had a lot of birdie chances but didn't make putts. A good birdie to finish and looking forward to the weekend," he said.
Pulkkanen, who will be paired with De Bruyn in the third round, said he thought Li would be "pretty strong with the Chinese crowd" on the weekend and it was his goal to beat him.
Li will play with Chacarro in the last group on Saturday.
"I played with Haotong before in China and there was a lot of people watching at that time as well, but I am just going to do my own thing and play well from tee to green."
Dou, who plays on the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour's feeder circuit, is another Chinese aiming to win his national championship. The Henan native started his day on the back nine and carded a bogey-free round featuring two birdies and two eagles.
At the 644-yard 18th hole, his ninth, he hit a five-wood to within 12 feet and converted. At the 577-yard third, his 12th hole, he hit a six-iron over the green to the fringe and made a 30-foot putt.
"I had a really solid round, not a whole lot of mistakes. I'm very happy with it," said the 28-year-old who represented China at last year's Paris Olympic Games.
"I really want to win in my home country. It's been about 10 years since I last won in China. There's two more days, there's really good players out here, so just got to work my way through."
Rising Japanese star Keita Nakajima, who led the Asian Swing after the Hero Indian Open, missed the two-over cut after his second consecutive round of 74. The Volvo China Open is the third leg of the Asian Swing that concludes next week with the Hainan Classic. The top three players receive a spot in next month's PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
American Edan Cui (73), the top amateur, missed the cut by two strokes.
