Rafa Cabrera Bello head into the weekend at the UBS Hong Kong Open with a three-shot lead after another impressive performance at the Hong Kong Golf Club. The Spaniard opened with a 64 on Thursday in Fanling to take a one-shot lead and he matched the lowest round of the day again today with a 65 to get to 11-under to lead Australian Sam Brazel, who shot 66 to move to eight-under.
Masters champion Danny Willett joined Brazel in firing a 66 to then sit at six under alongside fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, American Paul Peterson and South African Justin Walters.
Cabrera Bello’s progress into the weekend continues a remarkable run that has seen him not miss a single cut in 2016 while also making his Ryder Cup debut and finishing eighth on the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex.
Cabrera Bello said: “I’m in a commanding position so am going to try to do nothing different. Just stick to my game plan and try to keep playing smart and being patient, waiting for my opportunities, and hopefully hitting good shots and creating some birdie chances. I know I will win again. I’ve won before and will do so again. I just need to keep giving myself chances. I have been working on some mistakes that maybe I have done on other occasions. I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong not to get the win, so it will happen. Hopefully it will happen in two days’ time.”
Defending champion Justin Rose will start the weekend ten shots behind Cabrera Bello after a one under 69 in round, but the Olympic Gold medallist is hoping overcome his putting woes to have a low scoring weekend.
Malaysia’s Danny Chia has put himself on the fringe contention at the halfway stage, thanks to an outward 29 in his second round of four-under-par 66. The double Asian Tour winner enjoyed a flying start with five birdies in his opening seven holes, which left him in a share of seventh position with Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao and England’s Steve Lewton. Three-time Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand carded a 68 to sit alongside Chia as he chases a 14th Asian Tour title.
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