Cayeux sets pace after long delay in Shanghai

Zimbabwe’s Marc Cayeux made a flying start to the delayed second round at the rain-affected HSBC Champions in Shanghai today to open up a one-stroke lead at the top of a congested leaderboard at a damp Sheshan International Golf Club.

After Friday’s play was washed out and Saturday’s start was delayed by three hours, England-born Cayeux, who now lives in South Africa, reeled off three straight birdies from the second to march to the top of the leaderboard following his first round five-under-par 67 on Thursday.

The 30-year-old dropped a shot at the par four fifth after finding the trees at the side of the putting surface and two putting the green, but he made an instant response with birdie a hole later to return to three-under through six and eight-under-par overall.

Cayeux, who finished 271st on the European Tour Order of Merit last season, sits a shot clear of overnight leader Henrik Stenson, England’s Oliver Wilson, Ireland’s Damien McGrane and defending champion Phil Mickelson.

Stenson remained at seven-under-par through five after cancelling out an early birdie, while Wilson made his charge to seven-under with back-to-back birdies to start his second round.

McGrane picked up three shots over his first seven holes, which included a tap-in birdie at the 346-yard par four seventh following an inch perfect approach, while world number two Mickelson found rough of the second tee and sand with his second shot but converted a birdie from three feet after judging his chip to perfection.

The three-time major winner briefly slipped back to his overnight six-under, but birdied the par fourth fifth to remain in the hunt at the $5m (€3.9m) event – dubbed Asia’s major.

World number three Sergio Garcia, seeking a win this weekend to overtake Mickelson in the world rankings, and Australian Adam Scott remained at six-under, while American Anthony Kim slumped to four-under-par after staring his round with back-to-back birdies.

The 23-year-old world number eight found a greenside bunker with his approach shot at the first before finding water with his second shot at the par five second – a hole he eagled during his first round.