China number one Liang Wenchong bravely spearheaded the Asian challenge at Fanling as he muscled his way into a four-way tie for the lead as the UBS Hong Kong Open reached the halfway mark yesterday.
The co-sanctioned tournament had a posse of European Tour regulars at the fore, but Liang refused to be overawed, pushing himself into contention with a sparkling five-under-par 65 for a nine-under total of 131 to set the stage possibly for a first ever win by a mainland player.
Grabbing a share of the lead were Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa. It is not quite the fantastic four that the organisers might have hoped for, but the marquee names were lurking not too far behind.
Northern Ireland hot-shot Rory McIlroy was three shots back on six under after carding a 68 yesterday, while South Korea's Yang Yong-eun, Asia's first major winner, was just two adrift on seven under, as was defending champion Lin Wen-tang from Taiwan.
Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Thongchai Jaidee was four shots off the pace on five under in a group of 12players, while overnight leader Udorn Duangdecha, despite self-destructing with a four-over-par 74, still managed to stay in the frame a stroke further adrift.
The Hong Kong Open has been a fruitful hunting ground for players from across the straits - in Taiwan - who have won 12 of the previous 50tournaments. Liang will be hoping to break into that company and become the first mainland winner.