Singapore – Gonzalo Fernandez-Casntano is alone atop the leaderboard of the Singapore Open, but inclement weather forced officials to cut the tournament to 54 holes.
Fernandez-Castano polished off a brilliant 10-under 61 on Saturday to finish two rounds at 15-under 127. He had to complete his second round on Saturday as storms set the tournament back on Friday.
After the second round was completed and the cut made, only a handful of players made it through a few holes before heavy storms, armed with powerful rain and lightning, returned to The Serapong Golf Course.
Play was stopped for almost five hours before the decision was made to abandon any hope of a return on Saturday. The tournament was shortened and the third, and now final, round will resume at 7:30 a.m. local time.
Edoardo Molinari and James Morrison both had 68s in the second round and share second at minus-12. Juvic Pagunsan shot a 66 in round two and is alone in fourth at 10-under 132.
Phil Mickelson, who found out this week he will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame next year, was cruising along in round two at six-under par, but two balls in the water at the par-five 18th led to a double-bogey.
He finished with a four-under 67 and Mickelson got through 36 holes at minus- four. Mickelson was one of the few to play some of round three and he is even through two holes.
"I had a chance to get right in the tournament with a birdie at the last, that double put me back quite a way," said Mickelson.
Fernandez-Castano had nine holes to go in his second round Saturday and he tallied five birdies to grab his three-stroke cushion.
"I was lucky because yesterday I didn't tee off before the thunder storm," said the Spaniard. "I took my time. I took it easy and started well with three birdies. It was great and then I had a good start again this morning. To play well you need to hole putts and that is what I did."
Fernandez-Castano has four European Tour victories, but has been hampered by injuries this season. He finished second to his fellow countryman, Sergio Garcia, at the Castello Masters a few weeks back and found a tip in the losing cause.
"It's the claw grip. I am just imitating Sergio Garcia to see if I can win as many tournaments as he does," joked Fernandez-Castano.
Danny Lee (65), Michael Hoey (66) and Anders Hansen (64) share fifth at nine- under 133.
Former PGA Champion Y.E. Yang (71), Richie Ramsay (65), Fredrik Andersson Hed (66), Joost Luiten (65) and Justin Rose (65) are knotted in eighth at eight- under 134.
NOTES: Fernandez-Castano established a new course record with his 61, but it came at the Tanjong Course, which, along with the Serapong Course, split the action over the first two rounds...Mickelson, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen will all head to the Presidents Cup next week.
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