Bad weather halts Singapore play-off

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Juvic Pagunsan will battle it out for the Singapore Open title tomorrow morning after bad weather forced the suspension of their sudden-death play-off at Sentosa Golf Club.

Both players had finished tied for the lead on 14 under par, forcing a play-off, and teed off at the par-five 18th for a second time with Pagunsan splitting the fairway and Fernandez-Castano finding the sand.

However, lightning forced the duo off and although they returned over an hour later to both hit lay-ups, thunderstorms returned to call a halt to proceedings for the day.

Fernandez-Castano had earlier let slip a four-stroke lead over the final nine holes as he ended with a round of 72.

With the tournament reduced to 54 holes after yesterday’s play was ravaged by the weather, the overnight leader entered the final round with a three-shot advantage over Edoardo Molinari.

And an eagle, a birdie and a bogey over the front nine on the Serapong Course saw him consolidate his lead, reaching 17 under at the turn to move four clear of the chasing pack.

However, three bogeys coming home as Fernandez-Castano missed a succession of makeable par putts saw the Spaniard’s cushion trimmed to one.

Pagunsan then held his nerve to birdie the last with a fine 10-foot putt before Fernandez-Castano found the water off the 18th tee.

However, he brilliantly drained a 20-footer to escape with a five and set up a play-off after Pagunsan had signed off with a 67 that featured five birdies - including a chip-in at the first – and one bogey.

Anthony Kim produced the round of the day as a 64 that contained eight birdies and a bogey saw the American climb into a share of third on 13 under par.

He was joined by Louis Oosthuizen, the South African compiling a fine 65 that included seven birdies and just one dropped shot.

Dutchman Joost Luiten, Danny Lee and Edoardo Molinari all ended 12 under following rounds of 67, 68 and 71 respectively, while James Morrison finished a shot further back in eighth thanks to a one-over 72.

Justin Rose was tied for ninth on 10 under par after shooting a final round of 69, the Englishman collecting three birdies and a bogey, while Graeme McDowell shot a fine 66 to end eight under par.