Slightly calmer winds than during the opening
round at Sheshan International Golf Club allowed for some low
scoring in the morning and Finau was at the forefront as he
signed for five-under-par 67 to be 11-under overall.
The 29-year-old carded four birdies to make the turn in 32,
surging to the top spot alongside overnight leader Patrick Reed.
Reed, one of the late starters, found the water on the sixth to
hand Finau a three-shot advantage before the leader found an
unfortunate bounce off a sprinkle-head on the 11th to go way
back of the green, eventually salvaging a double-bogey.
Finau dropped another shot on the 13th but three birdies in the
last five holes maintained his grip at the top of the
leaderboard.
After making his Ryder Cup debut and recording a top-10 finish
at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Finau remains keen to
build on the momentum this weekend.
"I played nicely and was happy with the way I finished," he
said.
"There's a lot of great players here that are looking to chase
me down. I've got to stay in attack mode, continue to make
birdies and if I limit the mistakes, I think it will be a good
weekend."
Masters champion Reed's steady progress on the back of seven
straight pars was dampened by a bogey on the 14th but a birdie
on the 16th ensured he finished with a 72, sitting eight-under
alongside English duo Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood.
Defending champion Rose fired a bogey-free 67, studded with five
birdies, to put himself back in contention, while Fleetwood
signed for a second consecutive 68.
American Xander Schauffele made a birdie on the final hole for a
71 to finish seven-under, a shot ahead of compatriot Patrick
Cantlay.
Belgian Thomas Pieters sank an eagle at the par-five 14th to
match the lowest round of the week with a 64.
The 26-year-old shared the seventh spot at five-under alongside
Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Argentine Emiliano Grillo and
Americans Keegan Bradley, Pat Perez and Kyle Stanley.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Amlan
Chakraborty)
[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|