ERNIE ELS took wet fairways and monsoon weather in his stride yesterday to shoot a one under par 71 and open a two stroke lead in the eight player, country hopping Super Tour in Manila.

The former US Open champion leads from Colin Montgomerie, who also handled the conditions well to card a 71, and Ian Woosnam, who shot a one over par 73.

The par 72, 7,013 yard layout was sodden from heavy rains during the ironically named Typhoon Ernie, and Woosnam quipped: "If it had been any worse we would have been playing with snorkels."

Montgomerie said: "The key for me today was that I drove the ball better . . . I am getting tired physically and mentally, but the other players are as well."

After rounds in Taipei, Seoul and at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Manila, the four city tournament flies into Bangkok for the final round tomorrow.