Taiwan’s Hung Chien-yao stormed into the lead on the second day of the Venetian Macao Open on Friday with a seven-under-par 64, but was still only one shot ahead of the tournament’s defending champion.

The 23-year-old’s stunning round at the Macau Golf and Country Club, which included seven birdies, propelled him to his first-ever lead on the Asian tour, in a tournament that has also seen four-time Major winner Ernie Els and two-time Macao Open champion Zhang Lian-wei miss the cut at the halfway mark.

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“Everything feels good,” said Hung, whose overall score was a 10-under-par 132.

“I didn’t push myself and didn’t tell myself that I have to play good. I was relaxed and enjoyed the day.”

One shot behind after two days of golf were defending tournament champion Anirban Lahiri, as well as South Korea’s Jeunghun Wang, India’s Chiragh Kumar and Brazil’s Adilson Da Silva.

Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong, who was in the lead after the first day of the $1 million (880,000-euro) tournament, struggled on day two with a 71.

Leading scores (par 71)
132 – Hung Chien-yao (TPE) 68-64
133 – Anirban Lahiri (IND) 66-67, Jeunghun Wang (KOR) 65-68, Chiragh Kumar (IND) 67-66, Adilson Da Silva (BRA) 68-65
134 – Scott Hend (AUS) 66-68, Sam Brazel (AUS) 68-66
135 – Thitiphun Chuayprakong (THA) 64-71, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 67-68, Lee Sung (KOR) 70-65, Rashid Khan (IND) 70-65