Poulter shoots 60, takes Hong Kong lead

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FANLING, China, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Ian Poulter fired a course-record 10-under-par 60 Friday and moved into the lead of the European Tour's Hong Kong Open.

Poulter had five birdies on each nine of the Hong Kong Golf Club and is at 13-under 127 halfway through the tournament. Anthony Kang (61) was 6-under on the second nine in his second round and is now in second place at 12-under. Simon Dyson (65) and Rory McIlroy (66) are tied for third two strokes behind Poulter.

First-round leader Mark Brown had consecutive bogeys on Nos. 6-8 en route to a 1-under 69 and dropped to a tie for 10th, four strokes off the lead.

Poulter is yet to make a bogey in the tournament. He set a course record and the tournament 36-hole record, breaking both by one stroke.

Kang closed with birdies over Nos. 16-18.

Poulter was 2-under after six holes before five consecutive birdies on Nos. 7-11. After a par at the 12th hole he had back-to-back birdies. He set the course record with a birdie at the 18th hole.

"It is one of those courses where if you can get off to a good start you really feel you can shoot a good number," Poulter said.

"I had five birdies from the seventh and as soon as that happened I felt there were plenty of chances coming in."