Unheralded Chinese player Tai Fu upstaged his more famous compatriots Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong yesterday by being disqualified. Fu suffered badly in the high winds on Thursday and blew out to nine over after 13 holes. He completed his first round yesterday, but signed for the wrong score on the fourth hole. 'He signed for a four when he had a five and was disqualified,' an official said.

Fu was one of 10 home-grown players competing in the #1.25 million ($18.6 million) Classic, the first time the premier event has come to China in its 14-year history. Among the mainland players, only Zhang, Liang and Shang Lei look likely to make the cut after the second round is completed today. Shang at one stage had his name on the leaderboard when he was five under during the first round. He finished in a nine-way tie for sixth at four-under 68, but was struggling to hold it together through 12 holes in his second round and had fallen back to two under when darkness descended.

Zhang raced to two under after three holes but was distracted by a photographer during his preparation for an approach at the fourth hole and made four consecutive bogeys. He finished the first round with a one-over 73, but did much better in his second round with a 68 to be six shots behind the leaders.