Michael Lorenzo-Vera maintains narrow lead

Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera overcame blustery conditions and an attack of nerves to compile a three-under-par 69 to maintain his overnight one-stroke lead after the China Open second round on Friday.

Australian Adam Groom provided the day’s highlight with a hole-in-one at the 199-yard, par-three third.

“I landed a nice tee-shot there yesterday so I quite like that hole,” Groom told reporters after finishing seven strokes off the pace with a two-under 70 for 143.

Lorenzo-Vera dropped four shots but also fired seven birdies in rising afternoon winds at the CBD International course to complete an eight-under total of 136, one ahead of Ireland’s Damien McGrane and Briton Richard Finch.

“I feel super happy because last night it was quite hard for me to get to sleep. I was thinking too much about what would happen during the week,” said the 23-year-old Frenchman.

Chasing his first European Tour title, Lorenzo-Vera wrested back the lead after surrendering it to Finch with a double-bogey at the 14th, his fifth hole.

“I sank two good putts for par and made a great birdie on the 17th that made me more confident and the putting came back,” said the leader.

Finch played in calmer conditions earlier. He hit five birdies in a 69 which included a 45-foot putt at the seventh.

“First thing this morning it was benign,” he said. “The greens had just been cut and we were the second group out so it was perfect.

“The wind did pick up as we played the back nine but nothing compared to yesterday.”

McGrane carded a bogey-free 69 that featured 10 pars in a row at the start.

“I made the most of my opportunities and kept as many bogeys off the card as possible. That’s what you have to do out there, it’s a difficult course,” McGrane said.

Briton Oliver Wilson was two off the pace on 138 after birdying the last four holes for a best of the week 66.

Holder Markus Brier of Austria was two strokes further adrift alongside British pair Zane Scotland and Simon Griffiths and American Jason Knutzon.

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