Price grabs lead after delay in Morocco

After five and a half hours of disruptive winds, Phillip Price mastered the Golf du Palais Royal links on Friday to take the lead at the Trophee Hassan II.

However, because of the lengthy delay, the second round will need to be completed Saturday morning.

Price was one of the first players to tee off when play got underway at 1 p.m. local time, and carded a six-under 66 to move to 10-under-par 134.

Jose Manuel Lara and Joel Sjoholm also completed their second rounds to rise up the leaderboard. Lara's 65 put him alone in second place at minus-nine, while Sjoholm posted a 66 to rise to third place. He was joined there by James Kingston, who was six-under through 17 holes.

However, the tournament picture is incomplete because many players are early in their second rounds, or haven't even started them. First-round leader Damien McGrane didn't tee off until nearly 6 p.m. local time and shot par through five holes. He remained at seven-under, three shots back of Price along with Jorge Campillo (69).

In all, 20 players didn't even tee off Friday. The tournament still plans to play 72 holes, using two tees for the start of the third and fourth rounds, European Tour tournament director Miguel Vidaor said in a video interview Friday.

In the video, which was posted on the European Tour's website, Vidaor said desert winds picked up early Friday morning and were gusting to nearly 40 miles per hours.

The winds were moving balls on several greens, including on the exposed second hole, forcing the tournament to postpone the start.

Price made the most of his playing opportunity. He played even par through five holes before rolling in three consecutive birdies from the 15th. After making the turn at seven-under, he knocked in birdie tries at the second, fourth and sixth holes.

The Welshman gained renown during the 2002 Ryder Cup, when he beat Phil Mickelson in a crucial singles match to help the European team win. He owns three European Tour victories, but hasn't titled since 2003.

Sjoholm and Lara both began on the 10th tee and used the back nine to get deep into red figures.

Both birdied the 10th, as well as the 15th through 17th holes. The Swedish Sjoholm also added a birdie at 13, while the Spanish Lara gained a stroke at 12.

Playing in consecutive groups, they both made the turn at minus-seven.

Lara initially dropped back with a bogey at the second, but made up for the loss with birdies at four, five and eight. Sjoholm played a clean front nine, but managed only one birdie -- at the fourth.

NOTES: Price has completed just one of five tournaments this year. He withdrew from the season-opening Africa Open, then missed the cut at his next three events. He tied for 11th at last week's Open de Andalucia.