Nov9 HSBC round two

Kevin Stadler posted a three-under 69 on Friday to move into sole possession of the lead after two rounds of the HSBC Champions tournament.

The American finished 36 holes at 11-under 133 and is one clear of world No. 2, Phil Mickelson. The three-time major winner birdied four of his last five holes, including his last three in a row, en route to a six-under 66.

“It was a good day today,” acknowledged Mickelson. “It started off very windy, but towards the end it seemed to calm down a bit. Yesterday and today I drove the ball very well. I didn’t have a bogey today which was a good thing too.”

Mickelson birdied the second and sixth holes to reach six-under par. It was his play late that brought Mickelson within one shot of Stadler’s lead.

At the par-five 14th, Mickelson drove into a bunker, but laid up with his second. He knocked his third to five feet and sank the birdie putt to get into contention.

Mickelson birdied the 16th, then holed a pair of eight-foot birdie putts at the final two holes to get to 10-under par.

“It was nice to finish with a couple of birdies,” said Mickelson. “I made a few putts coming in. It feels good heading into the weekend.”

Ross Fisher posted his second consecutive round of four-under 68 and is tied for third place with Simon Yates, who shot a 66 on Friday. The pair is knotted at minus-eight.

There was a 20-minute fog delay to start the round and Friday’s conditions were much more difficult than in Thursday’s opening round. Scores were higher in round two, but Stadler stayed strong.

One day after a start of three birdies in a row led to a course-record-tying 64, Stadler collected his first birdie of the second round at the par-four third.

He parred his next four holes before dropping a shot at the par-five eighth, a hole he birdied on Thursday. Stadler made the turn at even-par 36, but that was good enough to stay in the lead.

Stadler parred his first four holes on the back nine, then birdied the 14th. At the driveable, par-four 16th, Stadler knocked his tee ball to 20 feet. He drained the eagle putt to move to 11-under par for the championship.

Stadler dropped a shot at the par-three 17th. He laid up short of the green with his second at the par-five closing hole, then stuck his approach three feet from the stick. Stadler holed the short birdie putt to grab the 36-hole lead.

Stadler owns his first second-round lead on the European Tour and has one victory, the 2006 Johnnie Walker Classic.

No matter what happens this week, Stadler has endured the hardest part of his season. He tied for 15th last week on the PGA Tour at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic, which moved him to 124th on the money list, one spot inside the cut off point for getting a tour card.

“I didn’t really have anything in mind this week in terms of a finishing position, but this has been really great so far,” said Stadler. “I’m not really nervous or anything like that, I’m just enjoying my time here.

“I’m not really a very nervous person in general, I just like to think I’m laid back and just kind of go along with it. I’m sure if this position holds up I’ll get a little jittery over the weekend but as of right now, I feel great.”

Vijay Singh only managed a two-under 70 and is tied for fifth place with Andrew McLardy, who carded a three-under 69. The pair is tied at seven-under 137.

Defending champion Yong-eun Yang (68), overnight co-leader Niclas Fasth (75), Paul Casey (71), Frankie Minoza (70), Louis Oosthuizen (68) and Steve Webster (70) share seventh at minus-five.

Major champions Angel Cabrera (U.S. Open) and Padraig Harrington (British Open Championship) each shot rounds of 72 on Friday and are part of a group tied for 13th at four-under-par 140.

The 36-hole cut fell at five-over-par 149 and 22 players missed the cut, including Trevor Immelman and Colin Montgomerie, both of whom finished at plus-seven.