ZHENG STAYS ON BIRDIE TRAIN AT LAKEVIEW

　　Zheng Wengen might not like practicing but he fired another impressive round to hold the clubhouse lead in the Kunming Leg on the Omega China Tour today.

　　He fired a four-under-par 68 in the second round of the US$100,000 event, which was interrupted by several heavy rain showers.

　　Veteran Zheng tops the leader board on 10-under-par 134 at Lakeview Golf Club to lie four strokes ahead of Huang Mingjie, who came in with a 69.

　　One stroke further back are Liu Guojie and Li Chao, who returned rounds of 66 and 67 respectively.

　　“Look at my hands, they are very smooth. I really don’t practice as I am a bit of a veteran. I just spend 15 minutes on the putting green before I play,” said the 41 year old.

　　Zheng took the lead on the opening day with a 66 thanks to 11 birdies, a Tour record, and got on the birdie train immediately today with four birdies on the front nine.

　　“It’s more important to get my mind in shape before I play. I never think about what the other players are doing. Even if Li Chao starts making a lot of birdies I won’t think about that. I am also really enjoying playing golf at the moment,” said Zheng.

　　Zheng, one of the first generation of professional golfers in China along with Zhang Lianwei and Cheng Jun, has not won a tournament since 2002.

　　However, this year he has shown glimpses that he is on the verge of a breakthrough win, particularly in the Yanji Golf Championship where he finished joint second.

　　A rain delay which hit mid-way through Huang’s round slowed his progress. The up and coming golfer made the turn in three-under-par 33 but then lost he rhythm after the break and could not buy a birdie.

　　“There are two more days to go so a four stroke lead is not a big gap to make up,” said Huang, who is coached by veteran Hong Kong golfer Yau Sui Ming.

　　Yang Wenzhang, Fan Zhipeng, and Qiu Zhifeng are all six shots behind the front runner.

　　Twelve players will unable to complete their second round.