Higgins three off pace

DAVID HIGGINS shot a second round 72 to lie three shots off the clubhouse pace set by big hitting Wayne Westner after a rain disrupted day at the South African Masters in Port Edward yesterday.

South African Westner took full advantage of favourable morning conditions at the San Lameer Country Club to add a four under par 68 to his opening 69 for a 36 hole aggregate of 137. But with two and a half hours of play suspended during the afternoon because of lightning and rain, half the field were unable to finish their rounds before it got dark.

Westner's closest threats are Mark McNulty, a shot behind on six under par with four holes to play, and South African Warren Schutte, also at six under with six holes remaining.

In a three way tie for second place on 140 in the clubhouse are 23 year old Higgins and South Africans Ian Palmer, who fired a second successive 70, and Chris Williams (69).

Higgins, who opened with an impressive 68 was reasonably satisfied with his second round 72, saying: "Although the wind gusted a little this morning, conditions were pretty good for golf. Once again, though, I failed to make much with the putter after hitting most of the fairways and greens that's where it's still a bit frustrating."

The two overnight leaders, John McHenry and American Mike Christie, both dropped off the pace after carding four over par rounds of 76.

McHenry was very disappointed. "I hit a few errant shots today and found all sorts of problems out there. I started at the 10th, hit a lovely fairway shot and only had 90 yards to go to the green. But I then punched a little wedge only to see it roll off the edge into the water and I took a six not exactly the best of starts."

McHenry then suffered a roller coaster ride for the rest of his round, as he birdied the 12th from eight feet, birdied the 14th after hitting an eight iron to 12 feet and then dropped another shot at the par three 16th after pulling his five iron left.

He once again rallied with another birdie at the 17th before duffing a shot into the water at the 18th to turn in 39. His homeward 37 was blemished by a double bogey six at the par four seventh.

I never really found my rhythm," he said afterwards. "I've been working on my game for the past few months and today I simply didn't feel confident. I was level playing the 18th and, after that, it just seemed any bad shot I hit was a really bad shot."

Remarkably, Westner got off to a disappointing start. The twice South African Open champion dropped a shot at the first hole after driving into the right hand rough and another at the par three fourth when three putting.

But he then got his round into overdrive with seven birdies over the next nine holes around the turn.