Johnson holds one-shot lead over gym buddy

SHANGHAI Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, close friends who live down the street from each other in Florida, are in the final group going into the weekend at the HSBC Champions.

They are separated by one shot, so it might feel like one of their money matches when they play together at home.

There’s just one problem with that.

“We don’t really play much golf,” Johnson said after his secondround 9-under 63 Friday gave him a two-day total of 13-under and a one-shot lead over Koepka at Sheshan International.

“We go to the gym and we hang out, but we don’t go to the golf course together.”

Koepka birdied two of his last three holes for a 68 to sit at 12-under.

They will be joined by Justin Rose, who is at 9-under, making that three of the last five U.S. Open champions in the final group Saturday. Abbotsford, B.C.’s Adam Hadwin is the lone Canadian in the field, sitting at 1-under.

Meanwhile, Feng Shanshan of China had three birdies before a lengthy rain delay and three more after it, shooting a 6-under 65 Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Sime Darby.

Play was halted for close to four hours because of heavy rain at TPC Kuala Lumpur. But Feng, a two-time champion from China, managed to stay steady on both sides of the interruption to lead at 11-under 131.

Madelene Sagstrom (66) is in second place at 132, followed by Cristie Kerr (63) at 133. Kerr’s round was the lowest of the day.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is tied for 23rd at 3-under 139 following a round of 69. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp shot a 74 to sit tied for 57th at 3-over 145.

Overnight leader Lydia Ko (72) couldn’t maintain her first-round form and carded four bogeys in the second.