Kevin Kisner takes the lead at HSBC Champions tournament

Two par saves in the middle of his round and two birdies at the end put Kevin Kisner in a place he has never been. And that has nothing to do with his first trip to China.

Kisner put together another bogey-free performance Friday in the HSBC Champions tournament for a six-under-par 66 and a two-shot lead over Russell Knox going into the weekend of the World Golf Championship in Shanghai. He was at 14-under 130, the lowest 36-hole score of his career, and he was the 36-hole leader for the first time in his career.

It was more than Kisner expected at Sheshan International, mainly because he didn’t have any expectations.

A sore back kept the 31-year-old American from seeing the golf course until he teed it up in the opening round on Thursday. He was so lost that walking off the eighth green, he wasn’t sure how to get to the next hole. None of that seemed to matter.

“It’s just golf, man,” Kisner said. “Doesn’t matter if it was here or wherever. Still get the ball in the hole as fast as you can.”

That proved far more difficult Friday than in the opening round, mainly because the still, soft conditions gave way to a strong wind that never relented. Kisner twice saved par, with a 20-foot putt on the par-three fourth and a 15-foot putt on the par-four 15th hole.

Only 16 players shot in the 60s on Friday, compared with 41 in the opening round.

Knox started his round with a 40-foot birdie putt that set the tone for the day. He wound up with the low round of the day at seven-under 65, leaving him two shots behind Kisner and with his own tale about being a little unprepared for his first World Golf Championship.

Branden Grace of South Africa, who opened with a 63, added three birdies through 10 holes until he forced the issue trying to get further ahead and wound up playing the final eight holes in two over. He had to settle for a 71 and was four shots behind.

The buzz came from Li Haotong of China, who spent the afternoon chasing the lead and thrilling the hometown gallery. A bogey on the final hole gave him a 69, and he joined Patrick Reed (70) at nine-under 135.

Jordan Spieth missed a few good opportunities at the turn, and then ran off three straight bogeys and wondered if he would make another par. He salvaged his day with birdies on the final two par-five holes for a 72, though he was 10 shots behind.

Rory McIlroy winced on the range as he felt cramps in his stomach from food poisoning earlier in the week. He wasted a decent start by playing the last six holes in two over for a 72 and joined Spieth at four-under 140. Dustin Johnson looked like he would throw away his round with three straight bogeys around the turn, only to steady himself and finish with three straight birdies for a 71. He was six behind.

Langer moves into points lead for Charles Schwab Cup

Michael Allen made a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-five 18th hole Friday to take a two-stroke lead over playing partner Bernhard Langer in the Champions Tour’s season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Warned for slow play around the turn, Allen finished with a six-under 64 for an 11-under 129 total on Desert Mountain’s Cochise Course. The 56-year-old Scottsdale resident played the final six holes in five under with the eagle and three birdies.

Langer was second after a 68, leaving the 58-year-old German star in position to win the season points title and a $1-million annuity.

Langer began the week third in the Charles Schwab Cup points race, 66 behind Colin Montgomerie and 27 behind Jeff Maggert. With players receiving a point for every $500 earned in the $2.5-million tournament, Langer was $33,000 behind Montgomerie and $13,500 behind Maggert. Montgomerie had a 68 and was tied for 18th in the 30-man field at two under. Maggert was tied for 22nd at one under after a 67.

Castro has four-shot lead at PGA Tour event

Roberto Castro shot a five-under 67 on Friday to take a four-stroke lead in the waterlogged Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Miss.

Castro followed up his lowest score on the PGA Tour — a 10-under 62 on Thursday — with another impressive round. The highlight was an eagle on the par-four eighth when his 122-yard shot with a pitching wedge spun back about 10 feet into the cup.

Castro fought through several distractions in the second round, including a nearly five-hour rain delay and being stung by a yellowjacket on No. 5. He shook it off and finished his second straight bogey-free round to reach 15 under at the Country Club of Jackson.

Bryce Molder, Jhonattan Vegas and D.J. Trahan are tied for second at 11 under. Molder finished his round, while Vegas and Trahan had two holes remaining when play was suspended for the day.