ENGLAND’S GARY BOYD and Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet lead the way heading into the final 36 holes of the European Tour’s Volvo China Open.
The pair proved inseparable for a second day in Tianjin, shooting five-under-par rounds of 67 to reach an aggregate total of 11-under-par for the tournament, enough for a one-shot lead over South Africa’s Branden Grace (67), a two-time winner this season, and mercurial Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts (67).
Of the three-strong Irish contingent, Kells native Damien McGrane (71) is best positioned to trouble the leaders. Though the Kells native will be disappointed not to have built on an opening round of 67, he currently occupies a berth alongside overnight leader Matthew Baldwin (73) in a tie for 16th place. Peter Lawrie (17) and Shane Lowry (69) are two shots further adrift.
Though he monopolised coverage of the event in midweek, 13-year-old amateur Guan Tian-lang’s European Tour debut drew to a muted close. The junior world champion carded a second round 79 to miss the cut by 14 shots.
