Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat shot a three under par 69 to take the clubhouse lead in increasingly windy conditions at the Shenzhen International.
Aphibarnrat, whose one European Tour win came at the 2013 Maybank Malaysian Open, started his second round on the tenth hole at Genzon Golf Club and made five birdies but two bogeys to build on his impressive effort on Thursday.
That put Aphibarnrat, who tied for fourth in February’s True Thailand Classic presented by Black Mountain and is 21st on the Race To Dubai, two shots clear of a chasing pack thanks in part to a monster putt for a gain on the third, a par three.
The group in pursuit included Emiliano Grillo, who went round in five under on Friday, Gregory Havret, who shot four under, Matt Ford, Darren Fichardt, a pair who at one point in their second rounds reached eight under, and overnight leader Huang Wey-yi of China, who was yet to tee off.
Aphibarnrat, who has been playing in America in recent weeks, said: “It was a great round. Again, the wind was getting up on a few holes before I finished, but the way I was striking the ball is still very good.
“When I go out worldwide, I learn a lot of experience and I saw many top players play. Even this week, we have Bubba Watson around.
“So it's been helping Asian players to keep improving when we see all the star players, how they are playing, how they are playing the shots, and just adapt it to my golf game and it's improving.”
Sweden’s Niclas Fasth produced the shot of the day with a hole-in-one on the third, although at two under he was still some way off the pace.
