Home favorite Liu leads Volvo China Open

Guangdong's Liu Yue used all his local knowledge to produce a second round 69 (-3) and lead by two shots at the halfway stage of the 27th Volvo China Open in Shenzhen.

Playing on his home course, the 21-year-old carded six birdies to move to five-under-par at the Genzon Golf Club in Shenzhen and went into the weekend with a two-shot cushion over Liang Enqi and Fan Shiyu, both tied for second on three-under. Overnight co-leader Ding Wenyi and Hong Kong's Jason Hak Shun-yat are a shot further adrift in joint fourth on two-under with just nine players under par after the opening two rounds.

Tournament leader Liu Yue, who turned professional just two years ago, was an early starter and set the pace over a course he knows very well having grown up learning the game at the Genzon Golf Academy.

Born in Dongguan in the host province of Guangdong, Liu was solid off the tee and rolled in some key putts in what is the final event of the year on the China Tour.

He will tee off on December 18 well in the hunt for the biggest win of his career after enjoying success earlier this season with a top three finish at the Lanhai Classic.

The best round of day two came from 2019 Volvo China Open Amateur Qualifying Champion Liang Enqi who carded a five-under-par 67 to move into a share of second place on three-under alongside compatriot Fan Shiyu, whose round of 70 (-2) included a remarkable 17 pars and one eagle.

"I'm 100 per cent happy with my performance, especially as there were no dropped shots in that wind," said 28-year-old Fan, who owned a golf simulator club before turning professional in 2016. "The wind certainly helped me with the eagle on nine. As this is the last event of the year, I'll be doing my best to finish the year in as high a ranking position as possible."