Share

Masters champion Garcia has play halted by rain

Singapore - Masters champion Sergio Garcia had his second round at the Singapore Open halted on Friday as a tropical storm swept across the city-state, stopping play at the Sentosa Golf Club.

World number 10 Garcia was one under par after eight holes when play was stopped by rain in the late afternoon.

Rain has disrupted play on the Serapong course for the second day running with 78 players yet to finish their round.

Play will resume early Saturday morning.

The Spaniard was off to a good start on Thursday, teeing off in first place with American Kurt Kitayama with five-under-par 66.

Garcia and Kitayama are currently in joint second spot behind Thailand's Chapchai Nirat, who managed a second round 64 to seize the clubhouse lead on seven-under 135 in the muggy heat.

"I am so happy and excited to be on top of the leaderboard. I haven't felt this way on the golf course for so long, at least three years," he said after his round.

Chapchai lost his Asian Tour card last season and only made this week's field because of his career earnings.

The 34-year-old, who has been off his game in recent years, was on form Friday as he fired seven birdies to lead by one shot over compatriot Tirawat Kaewsiribandit and South Africa's Shaun Norris.

"I hit 12 fairways and 15 greens but the ball was not close enough to the pin to give myself a chance to make (more) birdies," Tirawat said.

Norris, a winner on the Japan Tour last year, had two birdies in 12 holes before sinking a 10-foot eagle putt at the par-five fourth, his 13th hole of the second round, sending him soaring up the leaderboard.

"We always think it (the winning score) is going to be a lot lower than what it is. I think it can get to about 14 under par, but we'll see what happens," Norris said.

Top scores after round 2 of the SMBC Singapore Golf Open (par 71) before play was suspended:

135 - Chapchai Nirat (THA)

136 - Tirawat Kaewsiribandit (THA), Shaun Norris (RSA)

137 - Shiv Kapur (IND), Jarin Todd (USA)

138 - Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND), Cameron Davis (AUS), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Eric Sugimoto (JPN), Satoshi Kodaira (JPN), Lucas Herbert (AUS), Richard T. Lee (CAN), Andy Zhang (am, CHN), Toshinori Muto (JPN)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1818 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1778 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1084 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 461 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 187 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 254 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE