Ashun Wu opened a two-shot lead at the Volvo China Open, but Jacques Kruyswijk joined Erik van Rooyen in pursuit after strong showings on Friday at the Genzon Golf Club, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Wu delighted the home crowd with a brilliant 65 that saw him pull ahead of Finn Tapio Pulkkanen. Last week’s winner, Jorge Campillo, was then at ten-under, a shot clear of Frenchman Benjamin Hebert.
The home favourite won his maiden European Tour title at this event in 2015, and has gone on to triumph twice more, making him the most prolific Chinese winner in European Tour history.
Victory number four may have looked a long way off as he secured just one top-40 finish in his first eight events on the 2019 Race To Dubai, but he moved to -13 on a historic day where Yang Kuang, at just 14 years, six months and 12 days old, became the second-youngest player ever to make the cut on the European Tour. A clutch putt on the last secured a par and opening rounds of 71-71.
Van Rooyen matched his opening tally (68) to share fifth as he looks to challenge yet again. The 29-year-old surrendered his 54-hole lead last week and was left to regret a double on the 15th – his only blemish through the halfway mark. A birdie at 17 got one back as he will look for another fast start in round three after going through the opening 10 holes on Friday in five-under par.
Joining him in chasing down Wu is countryman Kruyswijk, who fired a 67. The big-hitting South African showed some of his best as he turned in -4 before adding his sixth and final birdie of the day at the 11th.
Kruyswijk shares 11th, but could quickly rise up the field if he makes a third birdie-birdie start to his round on moving day.
Louis de Jager, Daniel van Tonder and Haydn Porteous all booked a place for the weekend, with Christiaan Bezuidenhout missing out by one after two drops in his final five holes.
Photo: Lintao Zhang/Gallo Images
