SHANGHAI: Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium is among the longest hitters in golf. When he’s hitting it straight, it can be a dangerous combination.
Colsaerts overpowered the par fives at rain-softened Lake Malaren for the second straight day on his way to an eight-under 64, giving him a one-shot lead over Alexander Levy of France going into the weekend of the BMW Masters.
Colsaerts was at 14-under 130. He is nine-under on the par fives alone.
“I kept on hitting good drives, which for me here is a big bonus because it’s pretty soft,” Colsaerts said.
“If I keep it out in the short stuff, I’m going to have a lot of shorter clubs in than lots of the other guys, so I can see this course a bit more takeable than the others.”
Levy quickly expanded on his first-round lead with three birdies in the opening four holes. He made two more birdies in the middle of the back nine to try to keep pace with Colsaerts and wound up with a 66.
Levy already has won twice this year, including the Volvo China Open. His most recent victory was in Portugal earlier this month in a tournament cut short to 36 holes because of rain.
He beat Colsaerts, who had opened with a European Tour record-tying 60.
Romain Wattel of France had a 67 and was three shots behind. Branden Grace of South Africa (66) was among three players at 10-under 140.
Graeme McDowell got careless with two shots on the back nine that led to bogeys, giving him a 69 and putting him six shots behind along with Shane Lowry (66) and Jamie Donaldson (68).
Ernie Els (68), Justin Rose (65) and Ryan Palmer (67) were another shot behind. AP