China's top professional Zhang Lianwei is feeling 'right at home' after upstaging heavyweights John Daly and Lee Westwood to take a one-shot lead at the half-way mark at the US$250,000 Macau Open yesterday. After Thursday's inclement weather, the sun shone and 36-year-old Zhang blazed through the Macau Golf and Country Club by firing a sizzling seven-under-par 64 in a bogey-free round that equalled defending champion Simon Dyson's course record set last year. However, Zhang cannot share the record because 'preferred lies' were used under the Royal and Ancient rules, but the Shenzhen-based golfer was still delighted that his hopes of winning his first Davidoff Tour title had been boosted. Taiwan's Tsai Chi-huang fired a four-under-par 67 to lie in second place, with American Scott Taylor and South Korean Anthony Kang both tied for third two shots further adrift after carding a 69 and a 65 respectively. Zhang said playing in Macau was like playing in his own backyard. 'Macau is like a second home to me. It's so close to Shenzhen [where Zhang is based] and everybody speaks Cantonese and the Macau Government is very supportive of golf,' said Zhang, who has a 134-total. 'I have been dreaming of winning on the Davidoff Tour. If I continue to play well, I will have a chance.' Zhang won the 1996 Volvo Asian Matchplay in Indonesia, but he has yet to taste success in strokeplay on the Davidoff Tour. 'I will just go out there and play my game. Hopefully, I will have a few more steady rounds. Everything clicked for me today. I sank some long putts,' said Zhang, who had seven birdies. Zhang showed Daly - playing in his group - he knew a thing or two about the short game but said just playing with the two-time Major winner, who shot a three-under-par 68 to lie in joint 10th place, was an experience. 'Nobody can drive the ball further than Daly. He looked relaxed and natural and he doesn't hesitate when he plays his shots. He just goes for it.' Daly was pleased with his round, although he had a bogey on 13. 'I hit the ball good today. Other than that bad break on 13, I played real good. I didn't really make any putts today. That's the difference from shooting a 63 or 64. On 13, my drive kicked left into the thick rough,' he said. The American added: 'Zhang's playing really good. He's not missing any fairways or greens. He's going to be tough to beat. I need to shoot three or four under and something similar on Sunday to have a chance. 'Everyone was talking about how tight it [the layout] is but I hit more drivers on this course that I do at home. To me the course is not that tight. I've just got to start making some putts.' Seattle-based Taylor was happy with his two-day total of 137 which followed Thursday's round of 68, but he admitted it has been a while since he had been in the title hunt. The 41-year-old American underwent major back surgery in 1997. 'I had to work real hard on my rehabilitation but I'm fine now. I feel brand new. I took a year off while I recovered and I never lost sight in what I wanted to do,' said Taylor, a 17-year veteran. World number four Westwood struggled in the conditions again, carding a two-over-par 73 which followed Thursday's score of 72 - but he made the cut. The 1999 Macau Open champion said his game was still rusty after coming off a six-week break. 'It feels like Christmas right now. I am not getting anything at the moment and I found the greens to be slow, the slowest I have played. I have another two days to sharpen my short game,' said the Englishman. Hong Kong's Dominique Boulet was in joint seventh after a 71 for a two-day total of 139. 'I played all right but I didn't make any putts. It's nothing special but I'll take it,' he said.