Stenson leads interrupted SA Open

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Sweden's Henrik Stenson fired a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 in the second round of the South African Open.

Johannesburg – Sweden's Henrik Stenson fired a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 in the second round of the South African Open at Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate in Kempton Park on Friday.

Stenson playing in the morning, was still in the lead when play was suspended and later abandoned in the afternoon due to inclement weather.

Stenson, out early, moved to 13after 36 holes and countryman Magnus Carlsson was in second place, four behind, on nine under after shooting 67 in the Sunshine and European co-sanctioned tour event.

Leader from the first round, Merrick Bremner, was also on nine under with four holes left to complete in his second round.

Play will resume at 7.30am on Saturday, and after the cut has been made the third round will begin no earlier than 10.30am. Players will go off two tees in their third round to speed up the field and make up for lost time.

Stenson's round, teeing off on the 10th, started off slowly with pars in his first five holes before reeling off three birdies in a row from the 15th to go out in three under.

“It didn't feel 100 percent on the range this morning,” Stenson said.

“I made a little bit of a trembling start. I made five pars – nothing great the first couple of holes.

“I made a nice putt on 15, hit two good shots on 16, just short of the green, and up-and-downed that one.

“I hit a great drive on 17 again, just short of the green, didn't hit a good pitch but made a nice 10-footer for birdie.

“So that kind of jump-started my day with those three birdies.”

He picked up two more birdies after the turn, before an eagle on the par-five eighth hole lifted Stenson to his 13-under 131total.

“I birdied one and three as well, so I was five under after 12 holes.

“Then a couple of pars, nothing too exciting.:

Stenson powered a drive down the eighth which measured 319 metres into the breeze.

“I finished with a couple of fireworks on the eighth,” he said.“Great drive, nailed it down the middle into the wind, then a super six iron from 206 (metres) to eight feet, and made the putt.” – Sapa