Lawrence leads but sees record eclipsed

Home favourite Thriston Lawrence remained the man to catch in the Investec South African Open, despite losing his place in the record books on day two.

Lawrence had equalled his own course record at Blair Atholl Golf and Country Estate with a 64 on Thursday and added a second round of 67 for a halfway total of 13-under.

But compatriot Ockie Strydom tamed the longest course in DP World Tour history, which measures 8,161 yards and features four par fives of more than 600 yards, with a stunning 63 to establish a new record and trail Lawrence by two shots heading into the weekend.

“It was plenty of fun. It was pleasant to be out there hitting it as good as I can,” Strydom said after a round containing nine birdies.

“Bogey-free on Blair Atholl, I don’t know how long this golf course is but my legs are feeling it.

“This is one of those (tournaments) that everyone wants to win but we will just see what happens in the next two days.”

Lawrence and Strydom were among the early starters who completed their second rounds before play was suspended for more than two hours due to dangerous weather.

When the action eventually did resume, only 11 minutes of play was possible before the threat of lightning forced the players off the course again and play was suspended for the day.

Scots Scott Jamieson and Marc Warren are six shots off the lead after second rounds of 71 and 69 respectively.

Grant Forrest carded a 72 to lie one-over.

Tournament officials announced that the second round would resume at 7am local time today, with the third round beginning no earlier than 10.15am.

● Former world No 1 Adam Scott stormed into a share of the halfway lead with a brilliant 63 in the ISPS Handa Australian Open.

Scott carded five birdies and an eagle on the 18th at Victoria Golf Club to equal the course record which had also been matched on day one by fellow Australian David Micheluzzi.

Micheluzzi bogeyed two of his last three holes at Kingston Heath to finish alongside Scott on eight-under, with Josh Geary, Haydn Barron and Gunner Wiebe all on five-under.

Open champion Cameron Smith made the halfway cut on the mark of two over par following a second round of 73.

Scott, who won the title in 2009 and has twice finished runner-up, said: “I really felt like I had to come out here, really not take any chances, not push anything. If it was tricky at all, to play safe.

“I would be lying if I said I’m 100% confident with exactly where it’s going, but I had a better idea today.”

Australia’s Hannah Green holds a two-shot lead over South Korea’s Jiyai Shin in the women’s event.