Hongkonger says he will take it ‘shot by shot, hole by hole’ as he leads Fanling field following sensational bogey-free eight-under-par 62

Matthew Cheung rode a wave of emotion and a little bit of luck to take a three-shot lead in the Link Hong Kong Open on Friday, leaving himself 36 holes from making history.

Beginning the day two strokes back, Cheung carded a sensational eight-under-par 62 to move to 14 under overall, with Caleb Surratt alone in second on 11 under after also posting a 62.

Overnight leaders Anirban Lahiri and Kevin Yuan could not match their first-round fireworks, with the former’s 68 leaving him in a tie for third alongside Jazz Janewattananond and Steve Lewton on 10 under.

Yuan’s 71 dropped him back into a large group on seven under.

But the day belonged to Cheung, who was four under through five and went bogey-free around Hong Kong Golf Club’s composite course.

The closest the Hongkonger came to disaster was at the par-4 15th, when his drive skipped across the ditch splitting the fairway. A birdie duly followed.

“I didn’t hit a really great drive, and I was walking up there thinking I’m in the water,” Cheung said. “But I think golf is a law of equals. I hit a great drive down 13 and I was in a divot, so maybe the golf gods gave me one back there, but I’ll take it.”

Hong Kong has never had one of its own win one of the game’s most prestigious events, and the halfway lead is as close as any local golfer has ever managed to get to the trophy.

There is more at stake than just the title: a place in next year’s Open Championship and Masters is also up for grabs.

The pressure to deliver might stifle some, but Cheung said he would be taking it “shot by shot, hole by hole”, and drawing strength from the growing crowds that have followed him around Fanling.

“The crowds out there have been phenomenal,” Cheung said. “The support from friends, family and people I don’t know, honestly, has been great as well. And obviously, I’m playing some really good golf, but we’re only halfway through the tournament, so hopefully another two good days, and we’ll see where we are.”

He may yet be joined in the fight by Asian Games teammate Taichi Kho, whose four-under 66 took him into a group on five under. Isaac Lam began the day alongside Cheung, but carded a 73 to sit at three under with a large group that includes compatriot Jason Hak Shun-yat.

It was a day to forget for Jeffrey Shen Wang-ngai, though. A six-over 76 saw him miss the cut, ending his run as the tournament’s low amateur. That prize is likely to go to Markus Lam, who managed a 67 to make the cut on the number at two under.