Justin time to lead as rain arrives

SOUTH Africa’s Justin Walters set an imposing clubhouse target before play was suspended in the ISPS Handa UK Championship at The Belfry.

Walters carded six birdies and chipped in for an eagle on the 15th to card a superb eightunder-par 64, which was completed just as heavy rain began to fall on the former Ryder Cup venue.

That rain eventually led to play being halted due to flooding shortly after 2pm, with Walters enjoying a threeshot lead over Bernd Wiesberger, Joel Sjoholm, Scott Vincent and Benjamin Hebert.

“Any situation when you shoot 64 you’re smiling aren’t you?” Walters told Sky Sports. “I wasn’t smiling with a couple of holes to go though because I started to get really wet, but I wouldn’t want to be out there now facing another 18 holes in this weather.”

Walters had missed four cuts in five events on the European Tour’s UK Swing since golf returned from the coronavirus shutdown and feared he may have “peaked” during the pandemic.

Wiesberger was one of a number of players to fall foul of the difficult 18th as the weather deteriorated, the world number 30 dropping his only shot of the day on the last in his 67.

“I would have taken the score beforehand, (but) I had phases out there where everything kind of went my way and I was scoring easily and the last four holes it kind of broke off and felt like I lost four shots on the field,” Wiesberger said.

“I’m coming off the course and not quite that happy, but all in all I’ve got to say it was a decent start.”

Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor, who is one of the world’s top disabled golfers, was one under par after three holes of his European Tour debut before eventually signing for an 84.

The 22-year-old, who is currently fourth in the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability, has a rare condition called Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, a disability characterised by a shorter stature and shorter limbs.