Singapore Open cut to 54 holes

Golf: The Singapore Open has been reduced to 54 holes after play was called off for the day due to lightning at Sentosa Golf Club with Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano leading the way on 15 under par.

Play was suspended for almost three hours yesterday due to thunderstorms, meaning a number of the field had to return this morning to finish their second rounds. However, the third round was also halted on account of lightning before eventually being suspended with play to resume early tomorrow morning.

With the event now reduced to 54 holes, it leaves Fernandez-Castano firm favourite to claim the title as the Spaniard took a three-shot lead after posting a second round of 61 this morning.

Fernandez-Castano carded five birdies coming home on the Tanjong Course as he completed his second round in style to move clear of Edoardo Molinari and James Morrison.

“I am thrilled, you don’t shoot 10-under very often,” he said. “You don’t really know how the suspensions are going to affect you. I was lucky because yesterday I didn’t tee off before the thunder storm.

“I took my time. I took it easy and started well with three birdies. It was great and then I had a good start again this morning. I played well of course. To play well you need to hole putts and that is what I did.”

Molinari was unable to make much headway into Fernandez-Castano’s lead, picking up a birdie at the 12th as the Italian resumed on the Serapong Course before eventually signing for a 68 to join Morrison on 12 under

Juvic Pagunsan is in third spot two shots further back after firing his second successive 66.

New Zealander Danny Lee climbed into the group on nine-under following a 65, alongside Anders Hansen and Michael Hoey, while Scot Richie Ramsay also carded a 65 to move to eight-under alongside Justin Rose and YE Yang, who could only manage a 71.

Colin Montgomerie returned a 71 to make the cut and a birdie at the 11th moved the veteran to five-under before his third round was halted just two holes in. Simon Dyson, Phil Mickelson and Graeme McDowell also made the cut but Padraig Harrington missed out as a 77 left the Irishman four over par.