European Tour: David Lynn brushed off a delicate groin injury to shoot a second-round 67 and take the halfway lead at the China Open yesterday.

Lynn hit nine birdies to go nine-under-par for the tournament, a shot ahead of Zimbabwe's Marc Cayeux, Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima and Thai Prayad Marksaeng.

Peter Lawrie added a second round 70 for a halfway total of 141, while Damian McGrane also shot 70 for 142.

Lynn, who started at the 10th, would have been further ahead had he not found the water on his ninth hole, and then dropped a shot putting out at the end of his round.

"I made nine birdies and that was really the backbone of the round. I made a bad mistake on 18 coming in there. But, basically, the game was steady," said Lynn.

He also revealed he had a festering insect bite removed from his groin at the course on Thursday.

"It's quite funny that I'm on the slab just before I get on the tee," he said.

Cayeux, who famously burnt his hand while lighting a barbecue before partnering Tiger Woods at the NEC Invitational last year, also battled health problems before posting the second-best round of the day.

"I travelled here with no warm clothes, I was freezing in practice on Tuesday and I've got a very bad cold," said the 28-year-old, who shot eight birdies in his 65.

Prayad nearly struck a blow for Asia at this co-sanctioned event by tying for the overall lead on nine-under, but just missed out with a birdie putt at his final hole.

Christian Cevaer, who led overnight, had a poor opening nine, but an eagle straight after the turn triggered a recovery and he posted a par 72 for a share of fifth place with India's Rahil Ghangjee and Scott Drummond.

World number 13 Henrik Stenson, who carded a disappointing first-round 73, looked to be on his way to a magnificent score when he grabbed five birdies in a row from his second hole.

The Swede picked up two more shots at his 13th and 14th holes, before all his good work was undone at the next when he twice hit his ball into the water for a quadruple bogey. He ended up six shots off the pace.

Defending champion Paul Casey had a better day, shooting a four-under 68 to add to his first round 71.

Li Chao finished on even par for the first two rounds and was the only one of 22 mainland Chinese in the field to make the cut, which was set at one-over-par.