KAPOLEI, Hawaii – Sei Young Kim shot a 2-under 70 on Friday in wind gusting to 30 mph to take a one-stroke lead in the Lotte Championship.

With the breeze making birdies elusive at Ko Olina, the 22-year-old South Korean player reached 12-under 204 to break out of a first-place tie with I.K. Kim.

Sei Young Kim will take a lead into the final round for the second straight tournament. Two weeks ago, she had a four-shot advantage in the ANA Inspiration and finished fourth in the major championship.

Sei Young Kim won in the Bahamas in February in her second start as an LPGA Tour member.

I.K. Kim was second after a 71. Third-ranked Inbee Park was another shot back after a 69.

The top five are all from South Korea, with Jenny Shin four shots back after a 70, and Chella Choi at 7 under after 71.

American Paula Creamer (72) and Japan’s Ai Miyazato (71) were 6 under. Defending champion Michelle Wie (73) had five bogeys and four birdies to fall eight shots back in her home event.

Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Sue Kim is the top Canadian. The Langley, B.C., native is tied for 47th at 3-over.

Toronto, Ontario’s Albin Choi carded a 25-under total to earn medalist honours and exempt status on PGA TOUR Canada for 2015 at the Florida Qualifying Tournament.

The 22-year old carded a final round 7-under 65 to win by three shots over Uniontown, Ohio’s Ross Beal and Naples, Florida’s Edward Figueroa. 48 players in total earned status through the qualifying tournament, with eight players left to play off for four spots in the top 18 on Saturday morning. Players finishing 2-18 earn exempt status through the first six events of the 2015 schedule and are subject to the mid-season re-shuffle.

“There were still plenty of guys within reach and there are plenty of birdie opportunities out here, so I had to keep doing what I was doing and stay on the tips of my toes. I stayed patient throughout all these four rounds and it really paid off,” said Choi, a former Canadian Amateur Champion and a current member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro team.

The former NC State standout played on the Web.com Tour last season after finishing 53rd on PGA TOUR Canada’s Order of Merit as a non-member in 2013, but failed to retain status for this year. Thanks to his performance this week, Choi will be able to plan out his schedule and compete to earn status on the Web.com Tour next season.

“It’s always tough any time you lose your card. There definitely was a bit of a learning curve,” said Choi of his learning experience last year on the Web.com Tour, where he made 10 cuts in 19 starts. “I put some things I’ve learned into play this week. I think patience was the key. Maybe that was something I didn’t have before, and something I’ve gotten better at over the last couple of years. It really showed this week and I’m glad everything turned out the way it did.”

In total, four Canadians earned status for 2015: Albin Choi (1), Jean-Philip Cornellier (T27), Max Gilbert (T35) and Brett Cairns (T39).

DULUTH, Ga. – Ian Woosnam was tied for the lead at 4 under with five holes left Friday when first-round play in the Champions Tour’s Greater Gwinnett Championship was suspended because of rain.

The round was scheduled to be completed Saturday morning at TPC Sugarloaf, followed by the second round. There is more rain in the forecast Saturday and Sunday.

Woosnam, playing in the event for the first time, was tied with Tommy Armour III, Joey Sindelar, Gary Hallberg and Olin Browne. Armour and Hallberg had four holes left, Sindelar three and Browne six.

Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez was even par through 11 holes.

Jimenez had a streak of 40 consecutive holes without a bogey at TPC Sugarloaf – including his final 32 holes in last year’s win – end on his ninth hole. Jimenez, trying to reach the green with his second shot on the par-5 18th, instead found water, leading to his bogey.

Bernhard Langer, second last year after winning the inaugural tournament in 2013, was 1 under through 12.

Only one group completed the first round, with Tom Byrum the clubhouse leader at 3-under 69.

Water was standing on the greens when play was halted. When play was stopped, the plan was to clear the greens and then continue the round. Continued rain changed the plan.

“The fairways were just unplayable and water was standing on the greens, so it’s just so wet,” Hallberg said, adding he wasn’t prepared for the conditions.

“I’ve got this old golf bag that I’ve been using and the water just soaks right into it, so it’s not a good rain bag,” Hallberg said. “And I’m not dressed for it. I don’t have rain pants, I left everything at home.”

Hallberg said he assumed “Going to Atlanta, it’s going to be nice. That was a mistake.”

Those with a long history on the course, the former home of The PGA Tour’s BellSouth Classic, know rain is a common factor.

“It’s incredible, isn’t it?” Woosnam asked. “I’ve been here so many times and it’s rained nearly every time. One year it snowed. … Quite incredible, unfortunate this place has been with the weather.”

The 57-year-old Woosnam, the 1991 Masters winner, tied for 53rd and 60th in his first two events on the 50-and-over tour this year.

“I’m just trying to sort of like build myself into it,” Woosnam said of his early status as a contender this week. “We’re still working on my swing a little bit. One minute I get it and next I lose it a little bit.”

Woosnam and Hallberg are playing on sponsor exemptions.

Hallberg’s only Champions Tour win came in the 2010 Ensure Classic. He had two top-10 finishes last year.

“This is really my first tournament I feel 100 percent,” Hallberg said. “I feel good.”

Woosnam was bracing for an unusually early start of play on Saturday – and an early bedtime on Friday night.

“I’ll tell you what, I’ve never been to bed so early in America,” Woosnam said.

“Eat at 6 and you’re in bed at 8,” he said before adding with a laugh “You know, we just usually start the party up at 8.”

Stephen Ames led the Canadian contingent, sitting T6 at 3-under through 14 holes. Rod Spittle is 1-over through 14 while Jim Rutledge shot 4-over through a dozen holes.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Little-known Troy Merritt one-upped the Masters champion Jordan Spieth at the RBC Heritage.

Merritt shot a 10-under 61 on Friday to tie the course record at Harbour Town Golf Links only a few hours after Spieth wowed the gallery with a bounce-back 62 to match his lowest PGA Tour round.

Merritt tied David Frost’s tournament mark set in 1994 and topped the leaderboard at 12-under 130, a stroke off the 36-hole event record shared by Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson.

Merritt, who opened with a 69 on Thursday, saw Spieth’s score in the morning and knew the opportunity was there to go low.

“Anytime that you match shot for shot with the Masters champ, with the way he’s playing, it’s a pretty good feeling,” said Merritt, whose career best in four seasons on the PGA Tour is a tie for second last year at the St. Jude Classic.

Spieth looked like the headliner Friday, following a 74 on Thursday with the 62 – which tied his career low set at the Deutsche Bank Championship in 2013.

The 21-year-old Texan has been on a major role the past month, winning the Valspar Championship and finishing second in San Antonio and Houston before capturing his first major title at Augusta National last week.

Spieth birdied his final two holes at Harbour Town, electrifying the crowds already there to cheer him, to shoot the lowest tournament round in 10 years – until Merritt did him one better.

Merritt had nine birdies over his final 10 holes to surge on top and send Spieth six shots behind on a day of low, low scoring. Merritt e

PHOENIX – Just a few days after turning professional, Corey Conners capped a memorable week at the Masters by signing an agreement to play PING equipment, PING Chairman & CEO John A. Solheim announced. He’s making his professional debut at the RBC Heritage, playing on a sponsor’s exemption from RBC.

Conners is a 2014 graduate of Kent State University, where he won three times as a senior. He was recently #1 in the Golfweek World Amateur Rankings, and last year was runner-up in the U.S. Amateur, which earned him an invitation to this year’s Masters.

The 23-year-old Canadian from Listowel, Ont., was a four-year member of the Golf Canada National Amateur Team and champion of the 2014 Jones Cup. He now transitions from the amateur team to Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad.

“Corey’s recent performances have received attention, but in fact he captured our interest years ago and it has been fun to watch his steady climb in an amateur career built on consistency, which will serve him well,” Solheim said. “He is an accomplished player with a number of prestigious titles. We’re delighted to have Corey as part of our team and we’ll be watching the RBC Heritage with extra interest as he begins his pro career playing alongside the game’s best.”

As part of the multi-year agreement, Conners will wear a PING hat, carry a PING staff bag and play a minimum of 11 PING clubs. Financial terms and the length of the agreement were not disclosed.

SHENZHEN, China – Peter Uihlein made five birdies in gusty conditions and shot a 4-under 68 Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Shenzhen International.

The American started his round on the 10th hole and was 1 under on the back nine, where the strong wind made play more difficult. He then added three birdies on the front nine to finish at 9-under 135 total.

“It was tricky today. The wind was swirling quite a bit,” said Uihlein, whose only previous win on the European Tour came at the 2013 Madeira Islands Open. “I got the back nine out of the way pretty quickly. I played very solid. I felt like getting anything under par on the back nine was nice, and I played a pretty stress free front nine, which is always good.”

Kiradech Aphibarnrat matched Uihlein’s five birdies, but added two bogeys to shoot a 69 and finish one shot behind.

“Again, the wind was getting up on a few holes before I finished, but the way I was striking the ball is still very good,” the Thai player said.

Emiliano Grillo matched the low round of the day with a 5-under 67 to move into a tie for third with Gregory Havret, Darren Fichardt and Matt Ford. They were three shots behind Uihlein at 6-under 138.

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson shot a 2-over 74 to slip into a tie for 42nd. He made the cut, but was unimpressed by his form.

“It’s tough,” Watson said. “I haven’t played very well. I haven’t putted very well. But it’s a beautiful golf course.”

Watson was at 144 overall, nine shots behind Uihlein.

KAPOLEI, Hawaii – Sei Young Kim rode the wind and some major inspiration into a share of the lead Thursday in the second round of the Lotte Championship.

Kim shot her second straight 5-under 67 at breezy Ko Olina to catch first-round leader I.K. Kim at 10 under.

Sei Young Kim, the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic winner in February in her second start as an LPGA Tour member, began the round two strokes back. She bogeyed the opening hole, then rallied with four birdies before the turn and added three straight on her second nine.

Part of the 22-year-old’s motivation this week is what happened two weeks ago at the first major of the year, the ANA Inspiration in California. Kim took a three-shot advantage into the final round, but shot a 75 on Sunday and finished fourth.

“My win will certainly help me,” she said, referring to her victory in the Bahamas, “but I think what will motivate me better was the fact that I didn’t win. That’s really motivating me this week and that is going to get me to play better.”

Inbee Park, who ended the last two years ranked No. 1 in the world, was three strokes back after a 70.

Six of the top seven players are from South Korea. The exception is Paula Creamer. The American has won twice in Hawaii, including the 2008 Fields Open at Ko Olina.

“I love playing on these types of golf courses,” Creamer said. “Just the wind, the conditions. Your misses are exaggerated so much when you play in this kind of weather. Being a good ball-striker is incredibly important and that’s something that I’ve always felt was one of my strengths. For me, I like this. The windier it gets the better.”

A bogey on the final hole gave Creamer a 69 and a share of fourth at 6 under with Chella Choi (68) and Jenny Shin (70).

I.K. Kim is going after her fourth LPGA Tour title, but first since 2010. She had just a pair of top-10 finishes last year, but a week off after the ANA Inspiration, and the warm wind and familiar food of Hawaii, have helped her this week – along with an improved putting stroke.

“After ANA, I spent a lot of time on the putting green,” I.K. Kim said. “I felt like I was hitting the ball really well, having a lot of opportunities, but putting was letting me down a little bit.

“I also went to Las Vegas, so putting and a little bit of fun and then here … I think that was kind of a good balance.”

Defending champion Michelle Wie was tied for eighth at 5 under with Japan’s Ai Miyazato and Haru Nomura. Wie, playing at home, shot a 69 that included an eagle from 117 yards out on the par-4 15th hole, followed by what she called a “nerdy” dance.

“I kind of saw it roll over the hill and I was like, `Oh, OK, it’s disappearing,'” Wie recalled. “Then everyone went crazy. It was pretty fun.”

Canada’s Sue Kim is tied for 39th at 1-over, while Rebecca Lee-Bentham and Alena Sharp have a share of 58th at 3-over heading into the weekend.

Peter Uihlein s’est hissé en tête de l’Omnium de Shenzhen, vendredi, à l’issue de la deuxième ronde disputée sur les allées du Genzon Golf Club, en Chine.

Uihlein, qui a joué 68, soit quatre sous le par, détient présentement un coup d’avance sur Kiradech Aphibarnrat, qui est au deuxième rang à -8.

Darren Fichardt, Matt Ford, Emiliano Grillo et Gregory Havret, pour leur part, sont sur un pied d’égalité au troisième échelon à -6, un coup devant Lucas Bjerregaard, Marco Crespi, Tommy Fleetwood et Matteo Manassero.

Scott Hend, Wen-Yi Huang, qui était en première place après le premier tour, et Julien Quesne sont quant à eux au 11e échelon à -4, à cinq coups de la tête.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – It’s been quite some time since Jordan Spieth had to explain a performance this poor.

The Masters champion had a post-Masters letdown in the opening round Thursday, shooting 3-over 74 to end his run of 16 straight rounds under par. He blamed it all on himself – and not the two-day celebratory media tour in New York this week.

“I didn’t drive the ball well, didn’t particularly strike my irons well. My chipping and putting weren’t there,” he said. “It was just an off day.”

And the sort of performance that stands in stark contrast with how Spieth played the past month. He won the Valspar Championship, finished second at the Texas Open and lost a playoff in the Houston Open before capturing the green jacket and his first major championship at Augusta National.

It was a lot to ask of anyone to come back just as strong, let alone a 21-year-old who hadn’t gone through it before.

“No excuses, I just didn’t have it today,” he said.

He better have it on Friday if he hopes to hang around for the weekend. Spieth stands eight shots behind Graeme McDowell and Matt Every, tied for the top at 5-under 66.

“Got a good feeling about tomorrow,” Spieth said. “Feel like I got some swings in, got in somewhat of a rhythm and can at least go out and feel the shots.”

Don’t bet against the young Texan.

He got into Sea Pines Resort late Tuesday night after some 25 appearances and interviews in New York, including an appearance with David Letterman and seeing the view atop the Empire State Building. He acknowledged his preparation this week had suffered.

Spieth was greeted by a large gallery on the first tee, crowds five and six deep stretching cellphones to snap pictures and get video footage. “Way to go, Jordan,” someone shouted after his tee shot.

The applause continued throughout the round and, while Spieth appreciated the sentiment, had difficulty concentrating on his game.

“I was upset about missing the green and then there was a standing ovation walking up,” he said. “It’s like, `Thank you. I just hit a terrible shot. Thanks.’ So it was kind of tough to find the balance there.”

It was clear, though, this would not be the Spieth who tied the Masters’ scoring mark of 18-under 270 set by Tiger Woods in 1997.

He was in perfect position on the par-5 second, which played the easiest in round one, when he left his approach shot short and in the bunker. Spieth could not make an 8-footer to save birdie. He was short of the green again on the par-4 sixth hole, leading to the first of three bogeys – Spieth had just one bogey in his first 36 holes at Augusta National.

The wheels truly came off at the par-3 14th when Spieth hit into the water and watched his third shot spin back about 15 feet from the cup. He made a double-bogey 5.

He hasn’t had many days like this in 2015 – and neither had McDowell, who hadn’t shot lower than 71 in his previous 12 rounds, including all four at last week’s Masters when he tied for 52nd.

McDowell, though, found his game on the layout’s tight fairways and small greens. He had six birdies after an opening bogey to move in front.

“It was great to feel comfortable out there today, see my lines, hit my speeds and make a few putts,” said McDowell, who has not won on tour since taking this title in 2013.

It’s been a strange season for Every, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month yet hadn’t finished better than 27th in any of his 11 other events.

He had birdies on four of his final eight holes, including a 50-foot chip in on the sixth hole and a 20-foot chip in on the seventh, to tie McDowell. Every stayed in the lead when he chipped to a foot on the eighth hole to save par.

“I’ll take it any way I can get it,” he said.

After Bae, defending champion Matt Kuchar led a group of five another stroke back at 68. Ian Poulter and former British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen were in a group of 12 at 69.

Canada’s Graham DeLaet opened with a 2-under 69 for a share of 9th spot.

Other Canadian scores included Nick Taylor’s 72 (+1); David Hearn ‘s 72 (+2); Mike Weir’s 74 (+3); and Adam Hadwin’s 75 (+4).

Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad member Corey Conners, playing in his first event as a professional, had a 77.