European Tour: Rumford in running for back-to-back titles

Australia’s Brett Rumford remains in contention for back-to-back victories on the European Tour despite a late surge from Finland’s Mikko Ilonen in the second round of the Volvo China Open.

Rumford birdied his final four holes at Binhai Lake Golf Club in Tianjin to card a 67 and set the clubhouse target of nine under par, which was then matched by Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat. However, Ilonen then birdied three of the same four holes that Rumford had hours earlier, to complete a flawless 63 and claim a three-shot lead on 12 under par.

Rumford landed his first event since 2007 by winning a three-man play-off in the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea on Sunday.

Richie Ramsay is the best-placed Scot, seven shots off the lead after a second-round 68. David Drysdale, Marc Warren and Craig Lee all missed the cut.