American Kevin Kisner continued his birdie barrage to take a two-shot halfway lead at the WGC-HSBC Champions, where stronger winds in China Friday contributed to a frustrating day for a rusty Jordan Spieth and poorly Rory McIlroy. While Kisner fired a bogey-free six-under-par 66 for a 14-under total, world No. 2 Spieth could only muster a level par 72 to sit on four-under alongside McIlroy, who was still feeling the after effects of a bout of food poisoning. The Northern Irishman, who said he had lost 10 pounds (4.5kg) because of the ailment, struggled again with his short game as he mixed four bogeys with four birdies in his round of 72. The world No. 3's frustrations boiled over with a rushed three-putt bogey on the 16th and he found water on the last with his approach but did well to get up and down for a par five. The 31-year-old Kisner, playing in China for the first time, had no such troubles as he followed up his opening 64 with another rash of red numbers at the Sheshan International Golf Course. The South Carolina native was two clear of Scotland's Russell Knox, who managed a best-of-the day 65. "It's beyond my expectations," said the American world No. 34. "I had no expectations coming in, so it's been good." First round leader Branden Grace of South Africa was alone in third after a one-under 71, while local fans were given plenty of reason to cheer by the form of 20-year-old Li Haotong. Li fired a 69 that included a bogey five at his last following a wild approach into the water, to share fourth with American Patrick Reed (70) at nine-under 135. Big-hitting Dustin Johnson, the 2013 champion, closed with three straight birdies for a 71 to share sixth with Austrian Bernd Wiesberger (66) and Hunter Mahan (68). American duo lead in Japan American duo Ryann O'Toole and Angela Stanford grabbed the first round lead at the Toto Japan Classic Friday, but the final leg of the LPGA's Asian swing proved a step too far for Spaniards Azahara Munoz and Beatriz Recari. Munoz and Recari were stuck in Bali and missed their tee time after volcanic ash spew caused one of Indonesia's busiest airports to close for two days and cancel almost 700 flights. Their absence made room in the field for Ayako Uehara, but the Japanese could only muster a two-over-par 74 to sit well off the pace set by the lead American pair who both carded seven-under 65s. Uehara's playing partner Kim Ha-neul was among a quartet of South Koreans, along with Jenny Shin, Lee Ill-hee and Jeon Mi-jeong, who shared third after 66s, while world No. 3 Stacy Lewis was a further shot back on five-under. American Michelle Wie, struck down with food poisoning in Japan, looked on course for a competitive score as she reached four-under through 10 holes only for a double bogey six on 15 to halt her charge. She eventually signed for a two-under 70 and a share of 32nd. The $1.5 million 54-hole no cut tournament at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club in Shima is the last of the LPGA's five-leg Asian swing. — Agencies
