Kisner bucks back injury, grabs lead

SHANGHAI – Kevin Kisner kept up his impressive debut in China on Friday with a six-under 66 that gave him a two-shot lead over Russell Knox going into the weekend at the HSBC Champions.

Kisner never saw Sheshan International until the opening round because of a sore back. He still hasn’t made a bogey.

The 31-year-old American was at 14-under 130.

Knox made a 40-foot birdie putt on his opening hole and shot a 65 in much tougher conditions because of a strong wind. Branden Grace struggled on his back nine and had to settle for a 71. The South African was only four shots behind.

Li Haotong of China gave the home gallery something to cheer. Li was on the leaderboard all afternoon, shot 69 and was at nine-under 135.

Kisner and Knox had shared the lead in the latter stages at Sheshan International Golf Club but birdies on the 16th and 18th moved Kisner ahead as he looks for a first European Tour win at just the sixth attempt.

The 31-year-old revealed after his opening 64 that he had been suffering from back pain but that did not seem to get in his way on Friday as he posted six birdies in a flawless round.

“It’s not like an injury where it’s going to get worse,” he said after his second round. “It’s just dealing with the pain, and it’s gotten better every day, so hopefully this weekend it will be perfect.”

Kisner picked up birdies on the second, sixth and seventh holes and, when he also birdied the eighth, a bogey from Grace on the 11th saw him move into the lead before seven straight pars followed.