China's Zhang, USA's Paul Imondi shoot 64 to share halfway lead at Guilin Championship

GUILIN, GUANGXI, CHINA — Chinese youngster Zhang Jin and American Paul Imondi each carded a tournament-low 8-under 64 to move to 11-under and share the halfway lead at the 1.5 million yuan ($234,000) Guilin Championship, the fifth event of this year's PGA Tour Series-China.

Malaysia's Arie Irawan, with his wife of one month Marina on the bag, shot a 66 at the Guilin Landscape Golf Club to move to 10-under and share third place with Order of Merit leader Charlie Saxon, who fired a 65 as the American bids to secure a second tour title in three events. Korea's Jung Woo-jin, first-round leader after an opening 65, shot 70 to lie solo fifth at 9-under.

China's Jin Daxing, Sweden's Oskar Arvidsson and Canada's Beonyeong Lee all shot 66 to move into a four-way tie for sixth at 8-under with America's Shotaro Ban (68). The cutline was even par and 68 players representing 14 countries and regions will play during the weekend.

Zhang's 64 was his best-ever score as a pro. The 22-year-old, whose father is caddying for him, was bogey free and carded three birdies on the front nine. He picked up further shots on Nos 12 and 13, then closed out with three straight birdies to share the lead at a pro event for the first time.

However, he has pedigree, recording top-10 finishes on the tour in 2015 and 2016, while last month he tied for 11th at the Changsha Championship after a final-hole eagle.

"I have never been in the position of leader,"said Zhang, who turned pro in October 2014. "I may feel some pressure and I will try my best to find ways make to help me relax, and to just focus on my next shot. I need to try to stay calm."

"My father is caddying for me this week and I think it helps. He helped me relax and I normally don't like to eat any food during a round, but he gave me some food which gave me more energy."

Imondi also carded a bogey-free round, storming out of the gates with six birdies in his front nine. He picked up two further shots on Nos 13 and 16.

"On the front nine, I think the longest birdie putt I had was 6 feet, so everything else was either a tap-in or inside 3 feet, so the front nine was a very easy nine holes,”"aid Imondi, who is enjoying the wider setup of the course in Guilin, one of China's top tourist destinations.

"I like the course. It's a little bit wider than we're used to seeing, so I can be more aggressive off the tee boxes and hit drivers. The width of the fairways gives me a little bit more freedom to swing after it.”

"Irawan, 27, who missed the tour's last event in Haikou due to his wedding, remains bogey-free after 36 holes and was delighted after closing with a birdie to sit one off the lead.

"I always feel better when I'm behind the lead, better than having the lead, so I don't have to try and push. I'm just going to stick to playing my game,”"aid Irawan, who's playing his first full season on the tour.

"I have my wife with me and she keeps me happy and just keeps me relaxed. She makes funny jokes, which keeps me happy and just allows me to have fun and enjoy the moment.”

"After a ”frustrating”"ront nine, Saxon, who teed off on 10, put together a flawless back nine which started with an eagle on the par-5 second, followed by two sets of back-to-back birdies from Nos 3 and 17.

"I didn't putt great on the front nine, but finally got some putts to go in. I actually putted really well on the back nine. The back nine, I did everything pretty good,”"aid Saxon, who said playing partner Jin motivated him.

"It's awesome that Jin is playing well,”"aid Saxon, second on the 2016 Order of Merit and a Web.com Tour player last year.

"It's great when there are other people in your group playing well. You feed off each other and it's just a good environment to be in. Jin is a great player and his game looks good right now.”

"Every tournament on this year's PGA Tour Series-China offers 1.5 million yuan, a 25 percent increase over purse levels from 2016.

The PGA Tour established PGA Tour Series-China in 2014 as its third international developmental tour, following in the footsteps of PGA Tour Latinoamerica and the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada. Since its inception, PGA Tour Series-China players have received Official World Golf Ranking points for top finishes at official tournaments.