DAMIEN MCGRANE HARDLY had a chance to swing a club before thunderstorms forced him to abandon his second round at South Africa’s Joburg Open after just three holes.
The County Meath native had hoped to build on an excellent opening round of 63 which saw him share the overnight lead on nine under-par after yesterday’s weather-hit proceedings.
But when he finally got out onto the course this afternoon, McGrane fluffed his lines at the first with a bogey six, though he got back on with a pair of pars before the klaxon sounded to signal the suspension of play.
Earlier this morning, England’s Robert Rock took full advantage of the comparatively placid conditions while McGrane waited impatiently in the clubhouse.
Rock finished out the remainder of his first round with a seven under-par 65, and then went on to pick up a further four shots in his second round to move into the outright lead on 11 under.
The South African pair of Jbe Kruger and Branden Grace are a further shot back on 10 under-par while two more natives, Michiel Bothma and George Coetzee, finished the day on nine under.
Coetzee will have a chance to make up some more ground in the morning when he will tee off on the seventh hole. Play is due to resume at 06:45 Saturday morning, organisers said.
An eagle three on the 15th was the highlight of the day for Peter Lawrie as he carded a 68 to move to three under-par, which should be enough to see him make the cut for the weekend.
However, Simon Thornton will have work to do tomorrow morning if he is to make the cut. Thornton is currently on level par after 12 holes of his second round, two shots off the projected cut.
