GOLF: Gary Murphy continued his strong run of early-season form on his return to the European Tour by firing a four-under-par 68 in yesterday's second round of the Caltex Masters in Singapore.
It was good enough to leave the 30-year-old Kilkenny player in sole possession of fifth spot on six under par, just two shots behind leader Ernie Els.
The South African ignored the distractions of landing planes and ringing phones to justify his billing as pre-tournament favourite.
Els fired an eagle and four birdies in his 67 at Laguna National for an eight-under-par halfway total to remain firmly on course for a fourth consecutive victory.
The British Open champion, who won the Nedbank Challenge at the end of last year and the first two events on the US Tour this season, enjoyed a one-shot lead over defending champion Arjun Atwal of India, Atwal's compatriot Jeev Milka Singh and Thailand-based Scot Simon Yates, with Murphy a shot further back.
Twenty-one players were unable to complete the second round due to the knock-on effect of Thursday's thunderstorms which brought an early end to play.
Murphy was among the 72 players forced to complete their first round yesterday morning, which he finished with three straight pars.
He started the second round nervously, dropping a shot at the second. But he birdied the fourth and seventh before another dropped shot took him to the turn in level par.
The Kilkenny player left his best for the back nine and an eagle, birdie start and another birdie at the 15th took him home in 33 for a halfway total of 138.
Els was also forced to complete his first round yesterday. The world number two was five under par with three holes to play.
But he ran into trouble at the par-three 17th, where his tee-shot found water in front of the green and cost him a double-bogey five.
He quickly had the chance to make amends, however, with Thursday's delays meaning he had just under half an hour before starting his second round.
Starting at the 10th hole, Els was quickly back among the leaders with an eagle three at the 11th, chipping in from just off the green on the tough par-five with water guarding the front of the green, and added birdies at the 15th and 16th.
This time he negotiated the 17th safely in par and reached the turn in 32 before adding further birdies at the second and fourth, his only blemish coming after a wayward drive at the sixth.
Els refused to blame such mistakes on the number of mobile phones going off in the crowd on almost every hole, an added distraction to the large number of planes roaring overhead on their way to land at nearby Changi airport.
"People are very enthusiastic," said Els diplomatically. "They are out there capturing our swings on video, but the phones are a joke.
"They should work out how to use them. There is a mode called 'silent'!
"It's been constant for the last two days and it's a problem wherever you go."
Els missed good birdie chances at his last three holes and feels he is capable of a low score over the weekend if he can come to terms with the greens at Laguna National.
"I could have birdied all three - I had chances from eight, nine and 11 feet," Els added.
"I've hit some good putts but didn't get the speed right on most of those.
"It's almost better to get a downhill putt down the grain because then you can get it to the hole. If you are uphill and into the grain it's hard to hit it hard enough to reach the hole."
Ireland's other representative Peter Lawrie crashed to a 75 to miss the cut comfortably.
Play was again suspended yesterday with 21 players still out on the course, with the projected cut at one over par.
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