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Stadler takes early lead in Shanghai as pressure abates

Kevin Stadler of the US came to the HSBC Champions tournament with few expectations. He was even prepared to have a bad week in China. What mattered was being free of the pressure of the US Tour, where he has struggled to find his niche.

Instead, he was the early leader after two rounds yesterday, topping a field that includes 10 of the world's top 20 golfers. Stadler shot a 3-under 69 yesterday to go with an opening-round 64.

Vijay Singh was four strokes back after a 70. Of the other big names in the field who finished early yesterday, British Open champion Padraig Harrington and US Open winner Angel Cabrera were both seven strokes behind after second-round 72s.

No. 2-ranked Phil Mickelson, who opened with a 68 on Thursday, was 2-under after eight holes and drawing the largest galleries in the absence of Tiger Woods.

"I just kind of came here to have fun," said Stadler, who saved his US Tour card on Sunday -- the final day of the season. He needed to finish in the top 125 on the money list, and ended up at No. 124.

World No. 6 Adam Scott bounced back from a shaky start to share a five-way lead after the first round of the US$1.3 million Taiheiyo Masters golf tournament here on Thursday.

Scott bogeyed the opening hole but then rolled in one eagle and four birdies for a five-under-par 67 on the 6,626m Taiheiyo Club Gotemba course.

The 27-year-old, who won the PGA Tour Championship last year and the Houston Open in March, was tied for the lead with fellow Australian Brendan Jones and Toru Taniguchi, Komei Oda and Tatsuhiko Takahashi of Japan.

Filipino Angelo Que overtook Danny Chia at the top of the leaderboard after another low-scoring day at the Laguna National ASEAN Championship on Thursday.

Que plundered six-under-par 66 after his opening 65 to lead Malaysia's Chia by a shot with 11-under-par 131.

The 28-year-old from Manila nailed six birdies for the lead at Laguna National Golf and Country Club.

Paula Creamer birdied the final seven holes on Thursday to match US veteran Meg Mallon atop the leaderboard on five-under par 67 after the opening round of the LPGA Tournament of Champions.

Koreans Pak Se-ri and Hong Jin-joo were on 70 with Kang Jimin and Han Hee-won, US golfer Heather Young and Kim Saiki-Maloney and Swedish star Annika Sorenstam all on 71.
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