Joint first day leader Kevin Stadler surged ahead of the pack early on the second day of the HSBC Champions golf tournament in Shanghai, carding a three-under-par 69 in windy conditions for an 11-under-par total. However, a late surge by world number two Phil Mickelson cut Stadler’s lead to just one shot. Finishing the second day on 10 under par, Mickelson bagged six birdies, including four from the last five holes, and will head into the weekend confident of winning on his first competitive visit to China. 

Twenty-six-year-old Englishman Ross Fisher sits in third place, three strokes off the lead, along with Simon Yates, who sank four birdies in the last five holes to equal Mickelson's best-of-the day round of 66. Former world number one Vijay Singh finished the day joint fourth on seven under par, along with South African Andrew McLardy. They are followed by a six-strong pack on five under par, including Paul Casey and former leader Niclas Fasth, while US Open champion Angel Cabrera and British Open champion Padraig Harrington are among five players on four under. The field's only amateur, Mu Hu of China, had the distinction of hitting one of the day's two eagles, at the par four 13th hole.

"I came here to enjoy the whole experience and, without wishing to offend, not to take it all that seriously. I'm more relaxed here than over there (jn the US)," said tournament leader Stadler. Second-placed Mickelson said: "I struggled last week driving the golf ball, and today and yesterday I drove it very well and I kept it in play. If I missed, I missed it in a place I was still able to play from. I think that was
the biggest element because I was able to play aggressive and try to make birdies."

Last update : Saturday, 10 November 2007

Keywords : Golf, Shanghai, HSBC, Champions Golf Tournament

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