China’s Liang Wenchong grabbed a one-shot lead over Australian golfer Aaron Townsend at the China Masters on Friday while Asia’s major winner Y.E. Yang lurked four off the pace heading into the weekend.

Liang, a former Asian No.1 now ranked at 353rd, showed signs of resurgence as he carded four-under-par 67 on the demanding Nanshan International Golf Club course for a two-day total of 135.

Townsend, coming off his best finish on the OneAsia Tour this year, a sixth at the High1 Resort Open, had two birdies in his first five holes and seven altogether to go with two bogeys for a 67.

He said his score reflected a course that suited his style.

“It’s what I have been looking for all year, a good strong golf course that plays a bit long,” Townsend said.

“It looks like I’ll have some good partners to play with tomorrow, so I’ll go out there and hopefully do the same thing again.”

Yang, the South Korean who made history by winning the 2009 US PGA Championship, was among three players tied for third while South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, was eight off the lead.

Liang has experimented with putters, switched drivers and taken to the gym in a bid to recapture the form which took him to joint eighth at the 2010 US PGA Championship – and he said it was paying off.

“I reached my low point last year, but things are coming back,” he said.

Yang said he was very happy with his round despite a bogey on his last hole, but reckons he will have to go on the offensive to catch Liang.

Oosthuizen headed straight to the range after his second-round 72 left him one over for the tournament and battling to stay in contention.