China’s Jin Cheng maintained a two-shot lead after the second round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on Thursday as Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung surged up the leaderboard with the joint-best score of the day. Jin shot two-under 68 yesterday at the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club for a two-round total of 10-under-par 130, ahead of Japan’s Takashi Ogiso, who shot five-under 65. Jin Cheng fires course-record 62 China’s She Zihan and Australians Cameron Davis and Ryan Ruffels were a further shot back on 133 while five players were tied for sixth on six under. My putting wasn’t good today and I made some unnecessary errors, but I’m just trying to focus on my own game, stay calm and to finish up Jin Cheng Cheung was one of four golfers – along with Davis, Ruffels and Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana – who had the lowest score of the day at six-under-par 64. That put Cheung at five-under over two days, five behind Jin and tied for 11th with New Zealand’s Nick Voke, Taiwan’s Yu Chun-an, Sadom, Travis Smyth, of Australia, and Guam’s Devin Hua. Jin, who shot a tournament record 62 on Thursday, battled blustery conditions to pick up four birdies but bogeyed the par-three sixth and par-four 17th. “My putting wasn’t good today and I made some unnecessary errors, but I’m just trying to focus on my own game, stay calm and to finish up,” said Jin, who is eyeing a place in the US Masters by winning this event. “I hope that by leading the championship I’ll have some confidence for the next two days and am trying not to stress myself too much.” Cheung fired five birdies and an eagle, with one bogey, as he bounced back from his 71 in the first round to stand at 135 at the halfway stage. I went to the range a little bit yesterday afternoon and kind of found something so I hit it a little better today and finally saw some putts drop Matthew Cheung “I went to the range a little bit yesterday afternoon and kind of found something so I hit it a little better today and finally saw some putts drop, which was good,” said Cheung, who is studying and playing golf at Oklahoma City University in the US. “I had a lot of good saves for par and that just kept my round going, and kept me in the game.” Ogiso carded an impressive round to back up his opening 67 on Thursday. “I made a lot of birdies on the course, and I am happy to make a good score today,” said the 18-year-old from Nagoya. “No pressure for tomorrow, I will try to make more birdies tomorrow. I like the course and I’m having a lot of fun.” Defending champion Antonio Murdaca, of Australia, continues to find the conditions testing, carding an even-par 70 for the day and leaving him on one-under over two days. China’s Guan Tianlang, who won the 2012 championship at the age of 13, fought back from a difficult opening six holes to shoot 73, leaving him at 141 and tied for 43rd place. World amateur No 8 Ruffels, the highest-ranked player in the field, had a strong round with six birdies – three each on the front and back nines – as he improved on his 69 from the first day. His teammate Davis surged into the top five with seven birdies against a single bogey. The cut was made at three over par and 62 players qualified for the weekend. Cheung was among three Hong Kong golfers who made the cut. Leon D’Souza scored his second straight 71 for a two-round total of 142 and tied for 48th with teammate Motin Yeung (72) and five other players.
