HILTON HEAD ISLAND — Newly crowned Masters champion Jordan Spieth endured an “off day” as fellow American Matt Every and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell set the pace in the opening round of the RBC Heritage in South Carolina Thursday. Just four days after clinching a remarkable wire-to-wire victory at the Masters where he became the event's second youngest winner, Spieth struggled to a three-over-par 74 in blustery, chilly conditions at Hilton Head Island. The 21-year-old recorded two bogeys, a lone birdie and a double at the par-three 14th to end the round a distant eight strokes off the lead. Every, a double winner on the PGA Tour, benefited from two chip-ins as he piled up six birdies and a bogey to fire a 66 and share top spot on the leaderboard with 2013 RBC Heritage champion McDowell. South Korea's Bae Sang-moon opened with a 67 while reigning champion Matt Kuchar, who played with Spieth in a high-profile grouping, launched his title defense with a four-birdie 68. Uihlein edges ahead as Watson struggles In China, an American topped the leaderboard Friday at the Shenzhen International on nine-under par, however, it wasn't world No. 4 Bubba Watson but Peter Uihlein, ranked 176 places lower. Uihlein, voted European Tour Rookie of the Year after a stellar 2013, endured a lean time last season but showed glimpses of his best form in carding a four-under 68 in windy conditions at Genzon Golf Club. His four-under par round of 68 gave him a nine-under total of 135 and a one-shot lead over Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat at the halfway stage of the European Tour Event in the southern Chinese city. The burly Thai made four birdies and one bogey after he turned for home to card a 69. Watson struggled on the easier front nine and appeared to have trouble reading the grainy greens. The big-hitting left-hander fought back with birdies at the 10th, 13th and 16th but bogeyed the 15th and 18th to card a two-over 74 and fall nine shots off the lead. Kiradech has a two-shot cushion over a quartet tied for third comprising Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, Gregory Havret of France, Darren Fichardt of South Africa and Englishman Matt Ford. Having shot a best-of-the-day 66 Thursday Huang Wenyi could only manage 74 Friday for a four-under par total of 140 and a share of 11th place going into the weekend. Two Kims atop leaderboard In Hawaii, Kim Sei-young fired a five-under 67 in Thursday's second round to join rookie Kim In-kyung atop a crowded South Korean dominated leaderboard at the LPGA Tour's LOTTE Championship. Kim Sei-young finished 36 holes tied with Kim In-kyung at 10-under-par 134. First-round leader Kim In-kyung shot a three-under 69. South Korean golfers claimed six of the top seven spots after the completion of the second round at the Ko Olina Golf Club course. World No. 3 Park In-bee, the highest-ranked player in the field, is alone in third place, three shots back at seven-under 137 following the South Korean star's two-under 70. Chella Choi (68), Lee Mi-rim (69) and Jenny Shin (70) are all tied for fourth at six-under. Defending champion Michelle Wie, of the US, shot a three-under 69 and she is tied for eighth with Japanese stars Ai Miyazato (69) and Haru Nomura (70). Paula Creamer (69) is one of just three Americans in the top 15. The other is Brittany Lincicome, who shot a 67. — Agencies
