Lee Westwood’s charge at the Indonesian Masters came to a halt when the second round was suspended because of lightning yesterday, leaving the unheralded pair of Shaaban Hussin and Park Hyun-bin in the clubhouse lead.
The world No. 2 — who could return to the top ranking in the coming week — was nine-under in the US$750,000 event and will have to return at 6:30am today to finish his remaining two holes at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
Shaaban of Malaysia and South Korea’s Park fired a 67 and 68 respectively to take the surprise clubhouse lead on nine-under par 135 in the inaugural Asian Tour showpiece.
Photo: AFP
Thitiphun Chuayprakong of Thailand shot a 68 to lie in third on 136, while countrymen Pariya Junhasavasdikul, who shot the best round of the week so far with a superb 65, was a stroke back with compatriot Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Englishman Simon Griffiths. Round two was suspended due to lightning at 4:25pm, meaning 47 players are yet to complete their rounds.
“Obviously I’m disappointed because I had two more holes to play. I’m still in contention and have to see how things go in the next two days,” said Englishman Westwood, who turns 38 tomorrow.
He will regain the world No. 1 position in the coming week — and celebrate his birthday in style — if he wins, but compatriot Luke Donald fails to do the same in the US. Westwood, who reverted to the conventional putter from the belly putter, birdied his opening four holes before making the turn in 32. He added a birdie and bogey on holes 12 and 13 and was on the charge with another birdie on 16 before play was suspended.
Shaaban, a former Malaysian amateur No. 1, recovered from a sticky start.
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee was on eight-under through 16 holes before play was suspended. His playing partner and overnight leader Siddikur, from Bangladesh, struggled to emulate his solid first round and was five-under.
CHINA OPEN
AP, CHENGDU, CHINA
Jamie Donaldson fired 11 birdies for a second-round score of 61 that sent him soaring to the top of the China Open leaderboard yesterday.
However, three-time major winner Padraig Harrington and defending champion Y.E. Yang both missed the cut.
Donaldson is one stroke ahead of seven players tied at 12 under at the Luxehills International Country Club in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
The Welshman’s scintillating performance lifted him 57 places up the field, having shot a two-under 70 in the first round.
Jeppe Huldahl of Denmark, Gregory Havret of France, Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, Keith Horne of South Africa, Peter Lawrie of Ireland, Jeev Milkha Singh of India and Gareth Maybin of Northern Ireland were all in contention at the halfway stage, just a shot behind Donaldson.
Sergio Garcia of Spain was two shots off the pace — alongside four others — after a round of 67, while China’s highest-ranked golfer Liang Wenchong carded 66.
Despite opening the round with an eagle, Yang of South Korea slipped back following his first-round 68, recording five bogeys and a double bogey at the 18th for a score of 75.
Meanwhile, Harrington missed the cut by five shots after a second-round 73, including a double bogey at the 15th, that left him on par after 36 holes.
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