2006 China Tour Hainan Leg - Round 2: Liang leads by three with new tour record

Liang Wenchong set a new record for the Omega China Tour with a seven-under-par 65 as he surged into a three shot lead after the second round of the Hainan Leg.

The 27-year-old also set a course record, carding an eagle, six birdies and only one bogey as he wiped out Yuan Hao's commanding first round advantage and sent a catch-me-if-you-can message to the cream of the mainland's golf talent. "It's people chasing me instead of me having to chase everybody the way I did in this round," said the Japan Golf Tour regular.

"It gives me more space to concentrate on my game instead of thinking about how small my lead is. I feel very comfortable with a three shot lead going into the weekend."

Liang, who had set the tour's previous single round record of 66 on his way to winning the 2005 China Tour Zhuhai Leg, made his intentions clear early as he hit a hot streak on the front nine.

"I had confidence right after I birdied the third hole. The most important moment was the birdie on the sixth. After that birdie, I totally trusted my game and I eagled the next hole. Just like that I was already four under par," he explained.

"I knew I had to keep this momentum for the rest of my game and I know once I start playing well, I play well all the way. I didn't start very well in the first round and I struggled all day long. Instead of thinking about that I was telling myself before I began the second round that I had to do well right from the beginning, otherwise it would be like the first round again. This is my best round on the China Tour. I do like the score, I know sometimes I go really low and some times I go incredibly high, just like I did in the first and second rounds at the TCL Classic."

Yuan, who struggled to a two-over par 74, still holds second place, but his four shot cushion after day one quickly evaporated. Two shots further back is Liao Guiming, a runner up at last season's Kunming event, who rode on Liang's coattails to a 69.

Among the three players one shot further back is Li Chao, the day's other big-mover, who shot an impressive 67 to make amends for an uncharacteristically poor four-over-par first round.

"I guess I'm pretty lucky. The golf god took care of me - I had a good round," grinned the 2005 Order of Merit winner, who managed three birdies and no bogeys in his first nine holes, despite a typical tropical downpour that threatened to stop proceedings.

"When I was playing in the rain I kept telling myself that this was the chance for me to show my skills. This is the only way, because I know people are going to drop shots in this kind of competition. If I can play my best game I can surpass them easily. My putting was really hot and I liked my irons as well, because I only missed one green. To tell you the truth I hit really good iron shots all day long. I didn't play well on the first day because of my putting and I was telling myself that this was the only chance to grab the attention and that I had to have my 'A' game. It turned out pretty good with seven birdies and only two dropped shots."

Li's forward charge was in contrast to playing partner Zheng Wengen, China's first professional, who trod water both literally and metaphorically with a frustrating 73 which left him claiming supernatural interference.

"I guess my putts were bumping into ghosts, because I missed a lot of them," he said in his typically laid-back manner. "They just wouldn't go in. I hit my putts firmly enough, they just didn't drop. They just turned right or turned left when they got near the hole."

It was a similar tale for China's number one Zhang Lianwei who carded his second even par score and will have to make up seven shots on his protege and practice partner Liang before his name appears at the top of the leader board.

April 7, 2006

Bookmark page with:

Return to Top of Page