Wilson takes share of lead in Hong Kong

Oliver Wilson shot a four-under-par 66 to take the clubhouse lead alongside South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen midway through the second round of the UBS Hong Kong Open today.

Wilson, who lost out to Sergio Garcia in a play-off at the recent HSBC Champions, had started the day two shots behind overnight leaders Liang Wen-chong and Richard Sterne but maintained his charge for a maiden European Tour victory at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Starting on the 10th, Wilson reeled off four birdies against one bogey to reach the turn at three under and claim the outright lead at seven-under overall.

He then picked up another birdie on the fourth, sinking a putt from 15 feet before adding another on the par-four sixth after placing his approach shot to within a foot of the pin.

That moved Wilson two clear of the field but the 28-year-old bogeyed the last to finish four-under for the day and is eight under overall.

“I am little disappointed to bogey the last,” said Wilson.

“I played pretty steady holing some putts, which is the important thing. It is nice to feel comfortable on the greens and I will just try to do the same tomorrow.”

Oosthuizen, meanwhile, was in fine form throughout his round as the 26-year-old picked up eight birdies without dropping a shot to card an eight-under-par 62 - the best round of the tournament so far – to storm up the leaderboard.

He could have equalled the course record of 61 but unfortunately saw a birdie putt on the par-four 11th lip out.

“It was good,” said Oosthuizen. “I played well, hit 17 greens in regulation and made good putts.”

Teeing off early in the afternoon, Liang made a disappointing start to his second round as the 2007 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner was one over through four.

Colin Montgomerie, who endured one of his worst seasons on the European Tour in 2008, also produced some of his best form on a course he admits suits his game.

The Scot started the day four shots off the lead but nailed six birdies with just a bogey on the par-four 15th for the only blot on his scorecard.

Montgomerie is one stroke off the lead at seven-under for the tournament alongside Sterne and Italian Francesco Molinari.

Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei and Jeev Milkha Singh are tied sixth with the latter shooting an impressive seven-under-par 63.

Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez improved on his first round score of 71 yesterday to card a one-under 69 and is level par for the tournament.