Australia’s Jake Higginbottom has dominated play at the Ping An Bank China Tour – PGA TOUR China Series’ Second Global Qualifying Tournament to hold a steady lead after round two.

Higginbottom opened his week solidly shooting a bogey free 8-under 64 to take a commanding four-stroke lead over South Korea’s Daihan Lee and Kyung Young Jeong.

Tougher conditions faced the field in round two with only nine players breaking par and all 18 holes averaging over-par scores thanks to high winds.

However Higginbottom, who found the elements a challenge firing a 3-over 75, managed to hang onto a two-shot lead with 36 holes to play.

Higginbottom is one of seven Australians teeing up in the second Global Qualifying tournament for players not from China. A China only event will be staged next week.

The top-15 after four rounds earn playing rights to the 12 event PGA Tour China which offers Web.com Tour cards to the top-5 earners at season’s end.