The wind was pretty strong and the pins were a lot tougher today Kevin Stadler

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-11 K Stadler (US)
-10 P Mickelson (US)
-8 R Fisher (Eng), S Yates (Sco)
-7 A McLardy (SA), V Singh (Fij)
Selected others:
-5 P Casey (Eng)
-4 P Harrington Ire)
Par E Els (SA)
+1 S Garcia (Spa)
+7 C Montgomerie (Sco)

England's Ross Fisher produced a second 68 to trail Kevin Stadler by three strokes at the half-way point of the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.

American Stadler finished 11-under-par, with world number two Phil Mickelson a shot back in second place.

That left Fisher and Scotland's Simon Yates, who matched Mickelson's 66 on Friday, tied for third on eight-under.

Ernie Els (69) and Sergio Garcia (70) remain well off the pace while Colin Montgomerie missed the cut.

The Scotsman added a miserable 78 to his first-round 73 to be seven-over-par.

Open champion Padraig Harrington lost ground on the leaders with a par round of 72 leaving him in a group at four under and a tie for 13th.

Three-time major winner Vijay Singh and South African Andrew McLardy were in decent shape at seven-under at the $5m showpiece event.

Stadler, with a round of 69 to follow his superb opening 64, said: "I'm not really nervous, yet. I'm enjoying my time here; I'm not a very nervous person in general.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Friday's action in Shanghai

"But I'm sure if this position holds up over the weekend I'll get a bit jittery."

Stadler revealed on Thursday that the relief of securing his PGA Tour card for the 2008 season had handed him extra confidence heading into Shanghai.

"The course played pretty tough today. The wind was pretty strong and the pins were a lot tougher.

"I am just happy to shoot the score I did. I was plodding along at even-par for most of the day and I was able to get a few late ones to make it a good round."

Fisher, who landed his first career win at the KLM Open in Holland in the summer, reached the turn at one-under after following an early bogey with birdies at the par-four fifth and par-five eighth.

The 26-year-old picked up a shot to start the back nine, but after slipping back to one under with a bogey two holes later, he produced a strong finish with three birdies over his final five holes.

I've driven the ball extremely well over the first two days Ross Fisher

His last shot of the round was a 10-foot putt for birdie which followed an errant tee-shot into rough.

"I am a little surprised to be where I am on the leaderboard with a score like that," said Surrey man Fisher, 27.

"I don't think the course is playing overly difficult, but to be honest I've driven the ball extremely well over the first two days," said Fisher.

"But I am obviously pleased to shoot two 68s and very pleased to be in the position I am.

"If you drive the ball well around here, you're going to score well because the rough is so penal.