Drysdale leads Joburg Open as play is suspended

David Drysdale was leading the Joburg Open this afternoon when play was suspended because of thunder and lightning.

The players came in just before 2pm local time at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, but not before the Scotsman had completed a faultless round of 66 to go with his 65 in round one for a tournament total of 11-under-par.

His 131 overall was one better that South Africa’s Oliver Bekker, who carded a six-under-par 65 for a 10-under score, the same as Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland, who claimed three birdies in his last four holes to move to three under with three to play.

Bekker, who held the lead for most of the morning, said: “I don’t think I could have had a better draw for this tournament because I was off first in the afternoon on the east (course) getting the good greens and I didn’t have to worry about thunderstorms in the afternoon.

“I didn’t have a good finish at the end of last year, so I’m just trying to manage myself better on the golf course by cutting out the bogeys, maybe not playing as aggressively and trying a little more conservative shots and playing within myself.”

His countryman Andrew McLardy also managed to stay in the chasing pack on day two of the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event, with his three-under 68 moving him to nine under overall, alongside Englishman Danny Willet, who carded a 66.

McLardy said: “I had several weeks off and I was looking forward to it throughout that time because I like the course and read the greens well.

“I’ve had success here since amateur golf in 1992 and won a few tournaments here with a few low scores.”

Joint overnight leaders Steven Jeppesen and Trevor Fisher Jnr had a difficult time today, with the former coming home with a five-over-par 76, while the latter was six over with six holes still to play.

Defending champion Richard Sterne bounced back from his opening day 71 with a fine 66, and two-time major winner Retief Goosen was a further shot back after shooting 68.

Englishman Chris Wood faces a battle to make the cut after slipping to one over after 12 holes, one under for the championship.