November 06, 2015: India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia is confident of staging a weekend charge despite posting a second round even-par 72 at the WGC-HSBC Champions on Friday. Kevin Kisner of the United States played through the pain barrier by carding a six-under-par 66 to take the second round lead at the US$8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions on Friday.
The American, who revealed he has been suffering from back pain, opened up a two-shot lead over Scotland’s Russell Knox at the halfway stage of the Shanghai showpiece with his two-day total of 14-under-par 130.
Overnight leader Branden Grace of South Africa signed for a 71 to take third place ahead of China’s Li Hao-tong and Patrick Reed of the United States at the Sheshan International Golf Club.
Chawrasia, a three-time Asian Tour winner, struggled under windy conditions at the Sheshan International Golf Club but believes there is still everything to play for when the weekend round commences.
“No problem. I can catch up with the leaders very easily if I continue to putt well. The scores were not as low as yesterday and that’s largely because of the wind,” said Chawrasia.
Chawrasia, who teed off in the back-nine 10, stumbled early with a bogey on 12. He birdied 14 but immediately gave that shot back with another bogey on 15.
After turning in 37, Chawrasia mixed two birdies and another bogey to sign for a two-day total of three-under-par 141.
“No doubt the winds created lots of problems for us out there today. I’ve not been hitting the ball well today but that’s because the winds had some part to play,” said the 37-year-old.
Anirban Lahiri had a round to forget after he returned with a 75 that left him in tied-61st place.
World Number Two Jordan Spieth meanwhile needed a birdie on the last to save his round after a run of three bogeys from 11 had threatened to derail it.
Spieth shared 27th place with nine other players that included Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and world number three Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland.
“I lost a lot of focus there and I felt like I wasn’t zeroing in. I felt like I was very lazy in my routine, very lazy in picking targets. And it bit me with three unforced errors in a row on the back nine there.
But I’m pleased with the way that I bounced back got two more coming in. Because it looked like I could have just bogeyed in,” said Spieth.
