Title holder Retief Goosen of South Africa cruised into a three-shot halfway lead at the Volkswagen Masters-China in Sanya, Hainan, yesterday, thanks to an imperious seven-under-par 65.
The world number seven overcame a stuttering outward nine at the Yalong Bay Golf Club before roaring home in 30, which included four birdies and a superb eagle at his last hole for an outstanding two-day total of 15-under-par 129.
Overnight leader Lu Wen-teh of Taiwan and 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell head the chasing pack after a 69 and 68 respectively in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event. Australian Marcus Both, Ross Bain of Scotland and Englishman Yasin Ali share fourth place on 135, with Huang Mingjie being the highest-placed mainland Chinese in a tie for eighth position on 138.
Goosen, who started from the 10th, began with three birdies against bogeys on the 16th and 18th before turning on another master-class performance reminiscent of his six-shot triumph last year. He signed off in style, ripping a glorious three-iron to three feet at the par-five ninth hole for an easy eagle.
'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. 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.
'I set a goal of finishing at 11 under par as things weren't going my way. And then I made a good birdie on number three and four which settled me down,' said Goosen.