Former world number one Ernie Els celebrated his 45th birthday by shooting a five-under-par 65 to take the lead in the Hong Kong Open at the halfway stage.
The veteran South African led by two, on nine under, from Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and Australian duo Scott Hend and Cameron Smith after the second round in Fanling.
Four-time Major winner Els sank six birdies, four of which came in the space of five holes, with a bogey on the fourth being the only blemish on his card.
Smith looked like bettering Els’s round after seven birdies in his opening 10 holes but a second bogey of the day on the ninth, his final hole, meant he also had to settle for a 65.
Jacquelin and Hend, who is fighting to retain his European Tour card, shot 67 and 66 respectively.
Els, who has not won in 42 events, said: “I played quite nicely and 65 is what I needed to do.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the week and obviously in a good position.
“I won’t have any alcohol to celebrate but I’ll have a bit of cake and relax back at the hotel and see what we do for dinner tonight.”
First-round leader Jyoti Randhawa was one of 11 players tied for fifth on six under after going round in a level-par 70. That group also included Englishmen Lee Slattery and Seve Benson, who both shot 66.
Nicolas Colsaerts, who recorded a 60 in Portugal last week, slumped to five over after a nine-over-par 79.
Kevin Phelan was the only Irish golfer to make the cut at Fanling, the 23-year-old from Waterford carding a three-under 67 to move to four under.
Phelan will need strong finishes in Hong Kong and next week in Perth if he is to make enough money to keep his full playing credentials on the European Tour.
Peter Lawrie’s hopes of holding on to his card are slipping away after he missed the cut, a second straight level-par round of 70 leaving him one shot outside the mark. Damien McGrane also missed the cut after carding a one-over 71.
Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez missed the cut after an eventful level-par 70. The Spaniard struggled with illness in his first round and his problems continued with four successive bogeys on the front nine. An eagle three at the 13th revived his hopes but he was unable to produce a strong enough finish.
Thailand’s Prom Meesawat hit the shot of the day with a hole-in-one at the par-three second. Unfortunately for him he did not win the sponsor’s prize of a car, which is on offer for an ace at the eighth.
