Wocheng Ye fired a second-round four-under-par 66 to edge ahead of a packed leaderboard at the SJM Macao Open today at Macau Golf & Country Club.

The Chinese golfer has the clubhouse lead in the Asian Tour event on nine-under by a shot from compatriot and former college mate Bobby Bai (67), Australians Jack Thompson (68) and Brett Rankin (66), and Siddikur Rahman (66) from Bangladesh.

First-round leaders Gunn Charoenkul from Thailand and China’s Ding Wenyi are playing in the afternoon session.

Thirteen years ago Ye made headlines when at the age of 12 he became the youngest player to compete in the Volvo China Open.

Bobby Bai.

Birdies on the last three holes, as well as three on the trot from the sixth, saw him steal the spotlight today and take the lead in an Asian Tour event for the first time in his career.

“I made a double on a par-five, the 13th, so to make birdies on the last three was a great comeback,” said the 24-year-old, whose English name is Aden.

“It will be good momentum going into the next two rounds. I think all the clubs are working pretty well, and especially my putting, so hopefully I can keep going.”

Ye turned professional five years ago and has been playing on both the China and Canadian Tours, winning twice on the former in 2021.

He went to Eagles Dream Golf Academy in Orlando with Bai in the late 2010s.

Bai finished joint fourth in a Challenge Tour event in China last week and moved up the leaderboard this morning with four birdies in a row from the third.

Siddikur Rahman.

“I got my iron shots back,” he said. “My ball striking is pretty good this week and last week as well. Tee shots are getting much better from last month, and this week my putting is going pretty well.”

Veteran Rahman, aged 40 and a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, was equally as delighted with his round – on a short course that suits his accurate play.

He said: “Overall it was a great round, especially I give credit to my short game. I’m doing great, especially with my putting, and my shots are also quite okay, I’m not complaining. Overall, it was a very good first two days.

“This is a narrow course. Honestly, I like this course because it’s not that long. It’s just a placing golf course, so I just try to stay on the fairway and hit the greens. That’s what I’ve been doing.”

Thompson made his move, helped by working with an ‘in-form’ caddie, Adrian Verroca  – who was on the bag for Australian Wade Ormsby when he claimed the Jakarta International Championship, two weeks ago.

Jack Thompson.

“Really good to have him here,” said Thompson. “Obviously, he’s a proven from two weeks ago. He just kept me pretty level. I think we’re pretty similar in personalities. We never get to up or down. So, yeah, just helping me out. And I’m, you know, doing really well, considering it’s just been a week that we’ve met. So, yeah, happy.”

Pictures by Paul Lakatos/IMG.