SHANGHAI, April 20 (UPI) -- Raphael Jacquelin had three birdies in his final nine holes to build a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the BMW Asian Open golf tournament in Shanghai.
Jacquelin's late surge -- helped by improving weather conditions -- put him at nine-under-par 135, while Lee Sung-man was in second place at six-under 138. Five golfers, including Colin Montgomerie, were tied for third at five-under 139.
Jacquelin also led after 36 holes of last week's tournament but faded over the weekend to a sixth-place finish.
He had five pars and two bogeys on the day. Three of the birdies came in a four-hole -- Nos. 7-10 -- stretch. He gave a stroke back on No. 11 but as the wind died down finished solidly with five pars and birdies on 13 and 16.
"We were lucky this afternoon and the wind died on the back nine," said Jacquelin. "You need some luck sometimes and we were lucky with this side of the draw."
