Cao has confidence in 'secret' strategy

"I am really going to work hard at it and try to move my position up, and hopefully I can get to the Web.com Tour by the end of the year."

Meanwhile, Max McCardle is hoping to get his first victory on the tour and become the first Australian winner this season following victories by American Jeffrey Kang, Cao, Saxon and Korean Todd Baek.

Adelaide-based McCardle is currently the top-ranked Aussie on the order of merit in 15th place, earning almost 114,000 yuan after making the cut at all four events and sharing third in Chongqing.

"I'm out here trying to win. My goal every week is to try and win a golf tournament, so hopefully I'll be in contention late Sunday and give myself a shot at trying to win the trophy this week," said the 32-year-old, who recorded four top-10s in 2016 to finish 12th on the order of merit.

"No Australian has won on this tour this year and I haven't won on it, so I want to get the monkey off my back."

James Marchesani was the last Australian champion, edging Tarren at the Clearwater Bay Open in Hong Kong last November.

"My game feels really good. I enjoy the course and I feel in control of my game so hopefully my good performances will keep ticking over," said McCardle.

"I feel at ease with my game and I had a couple of good results over the break. I lost in a playoff last weekend, but now I'm hitting the ball well, making putts and making birdies."

The PGA Tour established PGA Tour Series-China in 2014 as its third international developmental tour, following in the footsteps of PGA Tour Latinoamerica and the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada.

Since its inception, PGA Tour Series-China players have received world-ranking points for top finishes at official tournaments.