Wilson looking for early bonus

England’s Oliver Wilson hopes it is a case of practice makes perfect after moving into a share of second place in the Volvo China Open.

Wilson added a second-round 67 to his opening 68 at Shenzhen Golf Club for a nine-under-par halfway total of 135, three shots behind Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol.

Pre-tournament favourite Paul Casey is eight shots off the pace after a 69 while defending champion and World Cup winner Stephen Dodd is 10 adrift after a second consecutive 71.

Wilson, a member of the victorious Walker Cup side in 2003, finished 97th on the Order of Merit in his rookie season but was in contention several times and feels he is now ready to take the next step in his career.

“It’s strange to play two weeks in the middle of nowhere but I see them as bonus weeks and a chance to get off to a good start,” the 25-year-old from Mansfield told PA Sport.

“A win would be great and then have a few weeks off before starting again in Dubai in February.

“I learned a lot last year. I was in contention five or six times and led three times and, although it didn’t go how I wanted it to, I learned a lot.

“If I can get into the same position and finish strongly I feel like I am ready to take that next step forward. I’m not a rookie any more so it’s time to move on.

“In New Zealand I led going into the final round and played okay but just got a little bit edgy.

“In Ireland (Nissan Irish Open) I could not putt on the last day. The first few days you’re not really thinking about the negatives but on the last day everything is going through your mind.

“I’m sure I’ll think about it a bit tonight but it’s only the second round and there is a long way to go. My goal again will be to be in contention walking off the 18th and if I can do that and be in the hunt on Sunday that will be great.”

Thailand-based Scot Simon Yates was a shot behind Wilson after a second 68 while Surrey’s Ross Fisher was another stroke back on seven under after completing his 68 with three straight birdies.

Fisher finished 18th on the Challenge Tour in 2005, enough to guarantee him entry into a number of tournaments this season, but then opted to attend the qualifying school anyway and finished 14th to earn full playing privileges.

“I had nothing to lose, I already had a card of some sort, so I felt so relaxed and the good golf flowed,” Fisher said.

“I had been the year before so knew what to expect and I was going there with absolutely no pressure on me.

“That is kind of the approach I have brought this week too, I just want to go out and enjoy it.”

Casey again cut a frustrated figure after mixing six birdies – five of them in a six-hole stretch around the turn – with three bogeys to finish four under.

“There were a lot of shots left out there,” said the 28-year-old Ryder Cup star. “I started off with a bogey and always seemed to kill my momentum when I got going.

“If Plaphol continues to shoot those kind of scores then I don’t think I can catch him. I just have to hope he makes a mistake and I play very well. I have some work to do if I am going to get near the leaders on Sunday.”

Veteran Barry Lane, joint third overnight after an opening 67, could only manage a second-round 74 to drop back to three under, two ahead of fellow Englishman Nick Dougherty.

Dougherty, who spent Wednesday morning on a drip in a local hospital after suffering a bout of food poisoning, carded six birdies and four bogeys to add a 70 to his opening 73.

Peter Lawrie and Gary Murphy are the best of the Irish on three under par and one under par respectively. The rest of the Irish contingent, Damien McGrane, David Higgins and Michael Hoey, are all over par.