Levy soars into China Open lead

Shenzhen, China (SportsNetwork.com) - Alexander Levy fired a 10-under 62 on Friday and grabbed a four-stroke lead after two rounds of the China Open.

Levy, who is winless on the European Tour, finished 36 holes at 14-under-par 130. He broke the tournament's 36-hole scoring record, which was 131. Jamie Donaldson set the previous record in 2011.

Adrian Otaegui, who is also winless on the European Tour, carded a 6-under 66 to move into second place at minus-10. First-round co-leader Alvaro Quiros posted a 4-under 68 and ended 36 holes at 9-under 135.

Raphael Jacquelin is alone in fourth at minus-8 after shooting 67 on Friday. Mikko Ilonen and Richie Ramsay both carded 68s and they are tied for fifth place at minus-7.

Simon Dyson, who shared the first-round lead with Quiros, shot 71 and fell into a tie for seventh place at 6-under 138. He was joined there by Tommy Fleetwood (68).

World No. 3 Henrik Stenson posted a 2-under 70 and ended two rounds at 3-under 141, which left him tied for 20th at Genzon Golf Club.

Jason Dufner shot 71 and he made the cut on the number of even-par 141.

The five players that did not complete their opening rounds on Thursday did so on Friday morning.

Levy, who parred his final hole of the first round earlier Friday, parred the first hole of his second round before dropping in three consecutive birdie chances from the second. A birdie at the sixth moved him to minus-8.

The Frenchman drained a 25-footer for eagle on the par-5 and followed with a birdie on the 10th. Levy birdied the 12th and made it two in a row as he also birdied No. 13.

Levy was 9-under for his round and needed four birdies in the final five holes to become the first European Tour player to shoot 59, but reeled off three straight pars from the 14th.

He ended that run with a birdie on the par-5 17th, then parred the last to post 62.

"It was a great round for me. I played unbelievably today and it's the first time I have played like that. I really like the course and it is in great shape. I played really well and made a lot of putts to make the lowest score of my career," Levy stated. "I played the right strategy today and I just have to try to do that over the next couple of days. I just tried to play one shot at a time. I didn't realize how good the score was to be honest because I was focused on playing shot by shot."

Otaegui birdied three of the first four holes to start his round. After four pars in a row, he stumbled to a bogey on the par-5 ninth. Around the turn, the Spaniard poured in three straight birdies from the 11th. Otaegui birdied the last for a 66.

NOTES: Defending champion Brett Rumford stumbled to a 3-over 75 and he dropped into a share of 40th at 1-under 143 ... The cut line fell at even-par 144 with 68 players moving on to the weekend ... Among those that missed the cut were Ross Fisher, Peter Uihlein, amateur Tian-lang Guan, Soren Hansen, Alejandro Canizares, David Howell and Shane Lowry.