Defending champion Retief Goosen had a seven-under-par 65 yesterday to surge to a three-stroke lead over Michael Campbell at the halfway mark of the China Masters.
Teeing off from the 10th hole, two-time US Open winner Goosen mixed three birdies with two bogeys on his first nine before firing four birdies and an eagle on the way back for a two-day total of 129.
"It was an up and down round. The first six holes, I played extremely well. I should have been six under but I couldn't make a putt," the South African said. "Then I hit it into the water for the second day running on 16 and that kind of stopped the round for the next five or six holes."
Campbell, last year's US Open winner, had five birdies and an eagle against three bogeys for 68. He shared second place with overnight leader Lu Wen-teh (
Lu was unable to match his 9-under 63 first round score, shooting four birdies and a bogey for a 69.
Scotland's Ross Bain (67), Marcus Both of Australia (65) and Englishman Yasin Ali (69) were six shots off the lead at 135, a stroke ahead of Simon Yates of Scotland.
New Zealand's Campbell was runner-up to Goosen at last year's China Masters and is aiming to reverse that result at Yalong Bay Golf Club.
"I played nicely all day apart from the last two holes," he said. "It's a shame. Bogeying the 17th and 18th always leaves a bad taste in the mouth but there are still two rounds to go."
Goosen says he thinks his best is yet to come in this tournament if he can master the par fives.
"If I play the par fives better, I have a chance to get to 22-under," Goosen said.
The halfway cut was set at 1-over 145, with 70 players moving on to the final rounds.
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