European Tour: Back in form Nicolas Colsaerts one-shot clear in China

A resurgent Nicolas Colsaerts will take a one-stroke lead into the third round of the BMW Masters in Shanghai.

The 31-year-old Belgian made nine birdies in his second circuit of Lake Malaren to card an eight-under-par 64 and move one-shot clear of overnight leader Alexander Levy.

Colsaerts, a former top-40 player and a member of Europe’s Ryder Cup team two years ago, is now down to 142nd in the world.

He has endured a difficult year which has so far yielded just three top-10 finishes.

European Tour Golf

However, two of these have come in his most recent three starts and include a runner-up finish in Portugal earlier this month when he carded a 60.

An upbeat Colsaerts said: "I felt like I've been in the zone a couple of times lately and it doesn't really happen in such a short period of time like this.

"So it's pretty nice when you can get it going like this and I've been playing quite well for the last couple of months.

"I'm comfortable being back here now. I'm quite happy being here and playing the way I am capable of."

Despite missing out on last month’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, he still feels he can reach those heights again.

Calibre

"Even though I was far out of making that team this time, I still felt that I was that type of calibre player.”

After 36 holes Colsaerts stands at 14-under-par with his nearest challenger Frenchman Levy.

Levy, who has won twice during 2014 – including his most recent trip to China in April – has fired rounds of 65 and 66.

Levy, the overnight leader, is two shots ahead of compatriot and room-mate for the week Romain Wattel who stands alone in third spot.

The highest placed British and Irish pros are Jamie Donaldson, Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry who are all tied-for-eighth, six behind Colsaerts.

Englishman Justin Rose, at No 6 the highest-ranked player teeing-up in China, fared better on Friday which yielded a 65, following his opening 72.

However, he is tied-for-12th seven adrift and the 34-year-old admitted: "The guys took advantage of the scoring conditions and basically my seven-under was needed to just somewhat keep pace.

“I played well and had the opportunity to go quite a few lower, too."