Staff WriterThe Hangzhou Open is starting to feel a bit like Lukas Nemecz’s personal workshop—precision tools in hand, sleeves rolled up, and a two-shot lead built with clinical intent.
The Austrian posted a second consecutive low score with a six-under-par 66 at Hangzhou West Lake Golf Club, moving to 13-under for the week and tightening his grip on the tournament heading into the weekend.
Only Spaniard Sebastian Garcia is within arm’s reach at 11-under, while a hungry mob sits three strokes further back in a ten-way tie. But make no mistake—Nemecz is the one currently calling the shots in China.
Nemecz in Command
Nemecz didn’t bother with theatrics—unless you count the rare eagle he jarred from the fairway on the 14th hole. His round featured six birdies, two bogeys and one emphatic statement swing.
“I am very happy with my first two rounds,” he said. “Seven under yesterday and six under today, it’s great.”
The man is underselling it. He’s dissected a course that demands full control from tee to green, and he knows exactly where he’s banking his gains.
“I’ve been really good on the par fives so took my chances there, hitting three of them under regulation. It’s a golf course where you need to be good in every department and so far, I’ve been happy with my game.”
He’s right—the par fives at Hangzhou West Lake are generous enough to tempt aggression but unforgiving to loose swings. Nemecz, however, has been all business.
“There are four par fives that are kind of reachable where you need to hit good three woods from the fairway. These holes make a big difference. The key this week is to be good on the par fives.”
Eagle Lands on 14
The highlight of his day came on the par-four 14th, a growling brute of a hole that’s been chewing up scorecards since Thursday. Nemecz had other ideas.
“It was a bit bonus nearly making a two on such a tough hole,” he said.
“It’s a tough hole. I hit a good two iron off the tee which was defensive and then I almost slam dunked my seven iron which was very nice.”
By “very nice,” he means downright outrageous. The shot hammered into the green like it owed him money and dropped for eagle—a rare reward on one of the course’s sternest tests.
Eyes on Promotion
Nemecz sits 30th in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, with the top 20 earning promotion to the DP World Tour after the Rolex Grand Final later this month. He hasn’t been on golf’s main European circuit since 2023, and this week’s elevated points offer him a perfect springboard.
“The Rankings are definitely on my mind for sure,” he admitted. “The goal is to get back on the DP World Tour and there’s still two chances left, with one this week. I am delighted with my position after two rounds. I’ll have to keep playing well but it will be nice to get some big points this week.”
Momentum is clearly on his side.
“I’ve been playing well since the break in the summer. My form is good, and I am hitting the ball nicely. I won’t change too much over the weekend; I am in a great situation and that’s where I want to be.”
The Chase Pack
Lurking behind are Julian Perico of Peru, Spain’s Victor Pastor, Sweden’s Albin Bergstrom, France’s Clement Charmasson, China’s Jin Bo, English duo Tom Lewis and James Morrison, and South Africans Wilco Nienaber and Bryce Easton—each sitting at 10-under and three shots back.
This isn’t a runaway. Not yet.
Moving Day Ahead
Round three of the Hangzhou Open begins at 8:44 am local time, with Nemecz teeing off at 10:45 alongside Easton and Garcia. Moving Day in China rarely disappoints—and with promotion dreams on the line and a tight leaderboard, expect sparks.
Nemecz has the lead. Now comes the hard part: keeping it.
