Uihlein moves into lead in China

Shenzhen, China (SportsNetwork.com) - Peter Uihlein posted a 4-under 68 on Friday and moved into the lead after the second round of the inaugural Shenzhen International.

The American completed 36 holes at 9-under-par 135.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat carded a 3-under 69 to end two rounds at minus-8 at Genzon Golf Club.

Emiliano Grillo shared low round of the day honors with his 5-under 67. He jumped into a share of third place alongside Gregory Havret (68), Matt Ford (69) and Darren Fichardt (70).

Matteo Manassero (70) headlines a group of four players tied for seventh place at 5-under-par 139.

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson stumbled to a 2-over 74. He fell into a share of 42nd place at even-par 144.

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

Uihlein took advantage of the par-5s on Friday to move into the lead. He parred three holes in a row from the 10th to open his round before carding his first birdie at the par-5 13th.

The 2013 Madeira Islands Open winner stumbled to a bogey at the 15th. He erased that mistake with a birdie at the par-5 17th.

Around the turn, Uihlein birdied the par-5 second to move to 7-under. He parred the next three, then dropped in a birdie effort at the sixth. Uihlein grabbed the lead as he capped his round with a birdie on the par-5 ninth.

"It was tricky today. The wind was swirling quite a bit," Uihlein stated. "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."

Aphibarnrat, who also started on No. 10 on Friday, tripped to a bogey at the 12th, but came right back with a birdie at No. 13. He parred the final five holes of his opening nine.

The 2013 Malaysian Open champion birdied the first and third, both for the second day in a row, to move to minus-7.

Aphibarnrat birdied the sixth to get to 8-under. He faltered to a bogey at the eighth, but quickly atoned for that error with a birdie at the ninth.

"It was a great round. 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," Aphibarnrat said.

NOTES: Uihlein has had the 36-hole lead twice previously on the European Tour, but failed to hold either lead ... First-round leader Wen-yi Huang stumbled to a 2-over 74 and dropped into a tie for 11th at 4-under-par 140 ... Niclas Fasth carded a hole-in-one on the par-3 third ... Byeong-Hun An, who shared second place after the first round, withdrew due to a neck injury and Paul Waring withdrew with a shoulder injury ... The cut line fell at 2-over-par 146 with 67 players moving on to the weekend ... Among those that missed the cut were Alejandro Canizares, Oliver Fisher, Peter Hanson, Peter Lawrie, Robert Karlsson and Nicolas Colsaerts.