BEIJING, China (PA) -- Richard Finch hopes he can produce another winning performance at the Volvo China Open this weekend and move himself closer to realizing his goal of qualifying for the majors.

The 30-year-old Englishman carded a 3-under-par 69 at the Beijing CBD International Golf Club Friday to briefly take the clubhouse lead in the second round. Soon thereafter,r however, first-round leader Michael Lorenzo-Vera of Frnace reclaimed the top spot by a stroke after also carding a 3-under 69.

But Finch, who secured his first title on the European Tour at the New Zealand Open earlier this season, hopes another impressive display this weekend will put him on the road to an entirely new level of success.

"I want to qualify for the majors," Finch said. "I haven't qualified for one yet and before you can play in the Ryder Cup you have to be qualifying for those on a regular basis."

Finch bogeyed the first hole Friday, but that proved to be the only blot on his scorecard as he went on to pick up five birdies in the rest of his round, including three successive from the fifth.

But he believes it is too early to predict how things will shape up when he takes to the course on the final round on Sunday.

"There is a long way to go," Finch added. "A lot of things can happen, such as the weather which could be a big factor. We will have to see what the weather deals us."

His task this weekend will not be easy with European Tour rookie Lorenzo-Vera in superb form over his two rounds.

The 23-year-old Frenchman was overnight leader after carding a 5-under-par 67 and he continued his fine form in the second round.

Lorenzo-Vera's lead could have been greater but for a double bogey on the par-4 14th and a bogey on the ninth -- his last hole. But he carded an impressive seven birdies to ensure his place at the top of the leaderboard.

"I always look super-relaxed, but my hands are always shaking," Lorenzo-Vera said. "It took nine holes for me to get relaxed."

Alongside Finch in a tie for second is Irishman Damien McGrane, who carded a 3-under-par 69.

McGrane endured a frustrating run on the front nine, making par throughout, but things improved after the turn when he carded a birdie on the 10th and then an eagle on the par-5 13th to put himself in contention going into the weekend.

Oliver Wilson made strides up the leaderboard as his impressive 6-under-par 66 moved him onto 6 under overall going into the weekend.

The 27-year-old from England, who hit a 72 in the first round, carded birdies on the fourth and par-3 ninth and added another on the 10th. He then bogeyed the par-4 14th, but that then sparked an impressive run of four successive birdies.

"Everything is going well," Wilson said. "I have improved every year, having had three second places in the last 12 months and am up there regularly. If I can get more consistency with my swing, I can be up there every time I play."

Elsewhere, defending champion Markus Brier is four shots off the pace after carding a 3-under-par 69, while David Howell's hopes of improving on his second place finish at the Portuguese Open look unlikely after carding a 73 to go 1 over par for the tournament.

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