Tony Finau moves into lead at PGA Tour's Mexico Open

Finau, who started on the back nine, posted eight birdies, including two stretches of three birdies in a row. The first spurt was on holes 16-18 and the second was at 5-7. His only blemish was a bogey on the par-4 eighth hole.

"I played really nicely over the last couple days, was able to capitalise with the putter on shots that I hit pretty close," said Finau, who opened with 65. 

"That was probably the biggest story, hitting it nicely, but being able to capitalise with the putter is very important out here and I was able to do that over the last couple days," said Finau.

Finau has five Tour wins, the most recent coming at the Houston Open in November.

Wu, who is looking for his first Tour win, also fired a 64 with eight birdies and one bogey, which came on his first hole. He finished strongly, notching birdies on four of his final five holes, including three straight on Nos. 16-18.

"I think the wind probably laid down just a little bit at the end there," Wu said. "The holes are still playing long and tough. I think I hit 4-iron into 16 and 5-iron into 17 but luckily hit some good iron shots, made the putts to make birdie, so that was a nice way to finish."

Finau and Wu were among three golfers tied for second place at last year's tournament, one stroke behind Spain's Jon Rahm.

Van Rooyen, who started on the back nine, finished his 66 with seven birdies and two bogeys, one each on the front and back nine. He birdied three of four holes early in his round before a bogey on the next hole slowed his momentum.

Five players are tied for fourth at 9-under, including first-round leader Austin Smotherman, who had only two birdies all day, and then took a bogey on the par-4 16th to finish at 70. 

That group also features Akshay Bhatia (65 on Friday), Andrew Putnam and Will Gordon (66 apiece) and Eric Cole (68).

Rahm, the world's top-ranked player, is among seven players tied for 12th at 7 under. His rocky round included an eagle, five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

"For a round that for the most part was good, there were two or three swings that were bad that cost me a little bit too much today."

Australians Geoff Ogilvy (70, 68) and Aaron Baddeley (70, 68) - both at four under - and Cameron Percy (70, 70) made the two-under cut.