Lynn stings into action

Englishman David Lynn got a shock after a curtailed first round of the Dunhill Championship in South Africa.

The Stoke-on-Trent golfer who managed only 14 holes of his first round before rain suspended play at Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane, near the famed Kruger National game reserve.

He was lying in his hotel room with girlfriend Yvonne McCadden when he got closer to the local wildlife than he planned to.

Lynn explained: “At about nine last night Yvonne and I were lying in bed when, out of the blue, she let out a scream and grabbed her leg in pain.”

Not knowing what was going on, Lynn’s girlfriend quickly explained that a scorpion, caught up in their duvet, had stung her leg.

Lynn continued: “I was shocked – but then somehow the thing managed to sting my hand as well.”

The two went to the nearby Nelspruit hospital for injections, where they discovered the scorpion was non-lethal.

The golfer continued: “We arrived back at our room at 3.30am – but with my tee time at 6.30, I didn’t get an ounce of sleep.”

Lynn still completed the first round in 73 shots – an admirable achievement - and then followed up with an even more amazing four-under-par 68 for the second round to make the cut.

He added: “It felt as if someone had stabbed me after the thing bit me and when I was playing today, two of my middle fingers felt numb – as if I had pins and needles. It was all a bit surreal.”

Ernie Els, playing his second event since recovering from knee surgery, was another of the 75 players forced to complete their first rounds this morning after a thunderstorm disrupted play yesterday.

The former Open champion completed a one-under round of 71 and then managed a five-under 67 for his second round – which saw him move to six-under for the event, three shots off the pace.

Overnight leader Phillip Archer, who carded a six-under-par 66 yesterday, started the day in joint fourth as local South African Michiel Bothma finished on nine-under for the overall lead.

Another local, Titch Moore, shot 68 to go eight-under for the tournament and second place, while Doug McGuigan (Scotland), Jarmo Sandelin (Sweden) and South Africans Grant Veenstra, James Kingston and Charl Schwartzel all finished on seven-under.