Zhang leads Chinese golf charge in Shanghai

Veteran Zhang Lianwei led a Chinese charge at the BMW Asian Open here on Friday to take a share of the lead with Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen, as a host of big names fell victim to strong winds.

Zhang, 42, sunk a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th to card a three-under 69 and match Derksen, who fired the same score earlier in the day, at five under.

A shot further back was Irishman Darren Clarke, who also shot a 69.

Overnight leader Peter O'Malley from Australia was at three under after following his opening round of 67 with a 74, and shared fourth position with Englishman Miles Tunicliffe who shot a 70 on Friday.

Henrik Stenson, the world number 13 and the top ranked player in Shanghai, was one of the many marquee players to succumb to the heavy winds that made life extra tough on the already tight Tomson Pudong Shanghai Golf Course.

Stenson began the day at four under, but carded a 76 to leave himself at even par for the tournament.

Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, who finished 25th at the Masters two weeks ago, was also at four under at the start of the day and suffered exactly the same fate as Stenson.

While Zhang fired three birdies on the back nine to provide much excitement for the spectators, 18-year-old Chinese amateur Hu Mu created extra buzz with a round of 69 to place himself inside the top 10 going into the weekend.

Hu, who is based in the United States and coached by swing guru David Leadbetter, was at two under, alongside yet another Chinese player, last year's Asian Order of Merit winner Liang Wenchong.

Three players in the top 10 offers China a tantalising prospect of keeping the BMW Asian Open trophy at home for the first time.

Indeed, no Asian has yet been able to win the 2.3-million-dollar event, which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.

One of the main dangers for the Chinese contingent is two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa, who worked his way calmly around the course on Friday for a 70 to be placed at two under alongside Hu and Liang.

New Zealand's Mark Brown, this season's Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, was also at two under after playing the round of the day, a five-under 67 that included a stretch of seven birdies in eight holes.

Arguably the biggest name in the tournament is former world number one Greg Norman of Australia, and the 53-year-old showed he is still capable of matching it with the younger players by shooting a 73 to also be placed at even par.