Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s bid for back-to-back European Tour titles gathered pace when the second round of the Volvo China Open began in Shanghai.
The 25 year old Thai, who pipped Li Hao-tong in a play-off for the Shenzhen International on Sunday, started on the tenth and began his round with consecutive birdies.
A further gain on the 14th put the big hitter three under through seven holes of his round and four under par overall – the same mark as David Howell, Bradley Dredge and Michael Hendry had led on overnight.
Late starters Dredge and Hendry were still there, but Howell turned in a one over 37 to slip a shot off the pace.
The European Tour’s youngest winner, Italian Matteo Manassero, and Belgian Thomas Pieters had also advanced to four under to make it a five-way tie for the lead.
Manassero missed his first five cuts this season, but the four-time European Tour winner – who only turned 22 last week – had rediscovered some form to finish 59th in Morocco and 29th last weekend.
That improvement continued, as Manassero turned in 33 after starting on the back nine, while 23 year old Pieters birdied the 13th and 14th to be two under through five.
Alongside Howell in a share of sixth where defending champion Alex Levy and fellow Frenchman Julien Quesne – both yet to tee off – and Australia’s Marcus Fraser, who was level par through six holes.
