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SOLID AS A ROCK: Englands Robert Rock came through a testing day unscathed in the Joburg Open yesterday. Picture: Luke Walker / Gallo Images

Grant Winter

England’s Robert Rock, who some students of the game reckon has the best swing in golf, took the lead yesterday in the Joburg Open which has been so disrupted by thunderstorms that a Monday finish is becoming a distinct possibility at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington.

The 34-year-old Rock, who won the Italian Open last year, had to set his alarm for 4.30am to give him enough time to be warmed up, fed and ready to tee off at 6.45, in order to complete the three holes of the first round he and his group were unable to do so on Thursday because of the storms.

And he was Rock solid – going par, birdie, birdie on those three holes (16, 17 and 18 on the par-72 East course) to sign for a splendid seven-under-par 65 on the demanding layout.

Less than an hour later, he was out on the par-71 West course next door for round two in this R13,5-million co-sanctioned event, in the company of defending champion Charl Schwartzel and Garth Mulroy.

Rock then shot 67 which gave the Englishman an 11-under-par 36-hole aggregate of 132 and put him leader in the clubhouse, one clear of South Africans Branden Grace and Jbe Kruger, who both posted 66s yesterday.

Then, at 1.37pm, exactly the same time that play was halted on day one, the hooter sounded and all the players still on the course (more than half the field) trudged back to the clubhouse for another extended stoppage because of the threat of lightning. In fact, that turned out to be the end of play for the day.

“I’m a little surprised to be in the lead so early in the season because this is my first tournament of 2012 and I didn’t practise much over the break,” said Rock. “On the other hand, I play the Joburg Open every year and I know the two courses well – where to hit the ball, where the slopes are on the greens.”

For 23-year-old Grace, a former SA Amateur strokeplay champion, the last six or seven weeks have been encouraging for him.

In December, at the European Q-School, he earned his tour card for 2012 and then in last week’s Africa Open in East London where he opened with a disappointing 77, he then went 63-69-67 to finish inside the top 15. And so far here at RJ&K his rounds have been 67 and 66. In other words, he’s been 30-under-par for his last 90 holes – not a bad way to start the 2012 Race to Dubai.

Grace had his card for Europe in 2010 but, on reflection, felt it almost came too soon in his career and he lost it at the end of the season which meant spending last year on the Challenge Tour.

“Golf-wise and mentally-wise, I wasn’t ready for a major tour (in 2010). But the stint on the Challenge Tour last year toughened me up and I played well at home.”

He certainly did, topping the 2011 Sunshine Tour stroke averages on 69,41 and he now feels he’s far better equipped for big-time golf.

In the Alfred Dunhill Championship and SA Open in November (both, like the Joburg Open, co-sanctioned by the European and Sunshine Tours), Kruger started well only to slip down the leaderboard after that. “I’m learning, though,” he said, “this game is all about taking one shot at a time and I did that today.”

Michiel Bothma is lying fourth all on his own here at RJ&K on 134, also after a 66, while Masters champion Schwartzel is a bit off-form on three-under 140 following a 68 on the West. That will probably just make the cut once the second round is, hopefully, completed today.

Much can change today, though, when the second round resumes. When play was called off yesterday George Coetzee was nine-under par for the tournament after completing six holes. And Retief Goosen, among others, was lurking at seven-under overall at the same stage of round two.

Weather delays, late evening finishes, early morning starts. Time-wise, the players are getting frustrated.

The leader doesn’t seem to mind, though. For him it’s been a blast ... “Rock around the clock” golf.