US Open champion Angel Cabrera shot an eight-under 63 yesterday to take the clubhouse lead midway through the Singapore Open, while World No. 4 Ernie Els looked likely to miss the cut after shooting a five-over 76.
Cabrera blazed his way from shared 24th place into the lead with nine birdies at the US$4 million Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club.
"I really hit it well off the tee and made everything that I needed to make and that was the difference," said Cabrera, who scored only one bogey, on the 13th hole when he missed the green.
PHOTO: AP
Play at the remodeled 6,130m, par-71 Serapong Course was suspended for about an hour in the afternoon due to lightning and ended before 37 of the players could finish. The players who did not complete the second round will resume it this morning.
South Africa's Els carded eight bogeys and three birdies to finish with a two-round total of six-over 148. Missing the cut would be more painful than usual for Els, as he chose to play this event rather than the season-ending Volvo Masters in Spain, jeopardizing his chances of topping the European Tour Order of Merit.
World No. 2 Phil Mickelson struggled with four bogeys and three birdies to leave him in shared ninth, six shots off the pace. He said he found the course challenging but looked forward to trying to catch the US Open champion.
Jin Park of the US was two strokes behind Cabrera after carding two birdies and a bogey to finish with a one-under 70. Park had finished the first round tied for the lead.
Two-time defending champion Adam Scott of Australia, ranked World No. 6, was in third place at four under after sinking five birdies and a bogey.
Briton Lee Westwood fired four birdies in a bogey-free round to tie for fourth with Australia's Gavin Flint at four-under.
Flint shared the lead after the first round with compatriot Kane Webber and Park. Webber shot a five-over 76 yesterday to be even par after two rounds.
Japan's Tetsuji Hiratsuka, Australia's Gary Simpson and South Korea's Mo Joong-kyung were three under.
Also at two under with Mickelson were Mark Brown of New Zealand, Angelo Que of the Philippines, Fiji's Vijay Singh and K.J. Choi of South Korea.
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