BEIJING, (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's Marc Cayeux fired eight birdies on his way to a seven-under-par 65 and a share of the early lead in the Volvo China Open second round.
Cayeux was joined at eight-under by Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima and Thai Prayad Marksaeng for a two-shot clubhouse lead over India's Rahil Ghangjee and Scotland's Scott Drummond on a warm day at the Honghua International Golf Club course in the Chinese capital.
"I travelled here with no warm clothes, I was freezing in practice on Tuesday and I've got a very bad cold," said the 28-year-old Cayeux, who shot 71 in the first round.
"I played nicely yesterday but better today and just hit more greens.
"The temperature was hot, the golf was hot, everything was hot today," added Cayeux, who famously burnt his hand while lighting a barbecue before partnering Tiger Woods at the NEC Invitational last year.
Prayad nearly struck a blow for Asia at this co-sanctioned event by taking the overall lead on nine-under but just missed out with his birdie putt at his final hole.
The 40-year-old, who won the China Open 10 years ago before it was co-sanctioned and again on the Asian Tour in Beijing last year, was nevertheless happy with his 67.
"I'm always feeling good whenever I'm in China," he said. "My performance has always been strong here."
Lima could not match his first-round 67 but made sure there was no repeat of the three-putt on the final hole that deprived him of a share of the lead on Thursday.
Caught short on the final fairway, the French-born player answered a call of nature behind a tree before resuming to finish with four birdies and a bogey for a 69.
"Like yesterday my driving was perfect and my putting was good today also, not bad on these greens because they are not that easy," said Lima, who adopted his parents' nationality in 2004.
His erstwhile compatriot Christian Cevaer, who led overnight after a six-under 66, was a late starter on Friday.
World number 13 Henrik Stenson, who carded a disappointing first-round 73, looked to be on his way to a magnificent score when he grabbed five birdies in a row from his second hole.
The Swede picked up two more shots at his 13th and 14th holes before all his good work was undone at the next when he twice hit his ball into the water for a quadruple bogey. He ended up five shots off the pace on three under.
Defending champion Paul Casey had a better day, shooting a four-under 68 to add to his first round 71, leaving him three shots behind the leaders.
