Lee Slattery makes hay before weather halts play in Prague

England’s Lee Slattery defied miserable conditions to card a superb 65 and post the clubhouse target at seven under par before play was abandoned for the day in the D+D REAL Czech Masters.

Slattery birdied six of his first eight holes at Albatross Golf Resort and added two more on his inward nine, with his only bogey of the day coming on the eighth, his penultimate hole.

Rain had been falling heavily throughout the morning and eventually made the course unplayable, with play suspended at 2.20pm local time.

Ireland's Gary Hurley struggled in the conditions as he laboured to a 76, which leaves him five over par for the tournament, while Darren Clark could only finish three holes of his second round, and remains at two over.

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South African Dylan Frittelli was one under after four holes to sit a shot off the lead, with England's Chris Hanson and Swede Pontus Widegren on five under after completing one hole.

Overnight leader Callum Shinkwin was no doubt grateful for the suspension after starting his second round by dropping three shots in four holes before a birdie on the 14th left him on four under.

“It’s always hard getting up early the best of days, but getting up and seeing the rain this morning, it was difficult,” Slattery said. “You never expect to shoot a score like that, but I’m really happy to be off now.

“It’s got to be up there, if not the best round (in my career). The only green I missed today was the eighth hole and I hit a great chip to five feet and missed it, and had a three-putt on the (par-five) first for a par. In this weather it was pretty incredible.

“The guys may have a result coming back tomorrow in dry conditions, but wherever I lie now, I’m going to be there and in the thick of it during the weekend. That’s all you can do so I’m really happy.

“My wife is seven days overdue now with our second baby. I managed to stay home for two weeks because she was early with the first one but I thought I would do the right thing and make sure I am there for the birth.

“Typically she is late so it will be nice to get home and hopefully if she can hold off for another couple of days then that would be great and that would be a great present for me, that’s bigger than any golf tournament.”

Ryder Cup team-mates Thomas Pieters and Matt Fitzpatrick are five shots off the lead after completing rounds of 71 and 72 respectively, with pre-tournament favourite Pieters seeking to win the event for the second time in three years.

The second round will restart at 7.30am on Saturday with the third round starting not before 12.45pm local time.