Winds prevent morning play in Morocco

Strong winds prevented any play before 1pm on the second day of the Hassan Trophy in Morocco.

The action was due to resume at 7.30am with Ireland’s Damien McGrane two in front of Spaniard Alejandro Canizares after a seven under par opening 65.

The long delay meant the second round was bound to spill into Saturday and it raised the possibility of the tournament being cut to 54 holes.

That is what happened in Qatar only last month when less than three hours’ play was possible on the Friday.

A reduction would be bad news for England’s Robert Rock, who needs a top two finish to have a chance of qualifying for next month’s Masters and was down in 102nd place after a 77 that included a septuple bogey 11 on the fourth hole.

Italian teenager Matteo Manassero is the only other player in the field with hopes of making it to Augusta – compatriots Edoardo and Francesco Molinari are already sure of their places – and he was in joint 10th following a 69.