The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Chesters still the man to catch as rain disrupts play
More bad weather forecast for event which is the last in the Race to Dubai
England’s Ashley Chesters remained the man to catch in the Andalucia Masters, despite not hitting a single shot on a second weather-affected day at Valderrama.
After four hours were lost to stormy conditions on Thursday, two further delays yesterday meant half the field, including Chesters and defending champion Sergio Garcia, had yet to begin their second rounds.
Play is due to resume at 9.10am local time (8.10am BST) today but with more bad weather forecast, the tournament could be extended until Monday or reduced to 54 holes.
The European Tour will be keen to complete as many rounds as possible as the £1.7 million event is the last chance for players to reach the top 116 on the Race to Dubai and secure full playing privileges for next season.
Scotland’s Marc Warren, who began the week 144th on the money list, is a shot off the lead after playing the first nine holes of his second round in two under par, with France’s Gregory Bourdy alongside Warren on four under after an opening 67.
Scott Piercy holds a one-shot lead after the second round of the CJ Cup in Korea, with Brooks Koepka in second place as he chases the world number one ranking.
Three-time major winner Koepka can reach top spot in the rankings for the first time with victory.
A solo second-place finish would also be enough assuming current world number four Justin Thomas doesn’t win the event.
American Piercy picked up four birdies on the front nine as he shot a 65 to sit nine under, one stroke ahead of compatriot Koepka in the £7.2m event.
An eagle three at the 18th helped Koepka also sign for a seven-under round – which could have been better but for a bogey at the par-five ninth.
Defending champion Thomas, knowing a win would lift him back to world number one, improved slightly after his opening 73 to move to one under after a second round of 70 – but sits eight shots off the lead.
Ian Poulter, who helped drive Europe to Ryder Cup success, is in fourth place after his 69.
Overnight leader Chez Reavie dropped back to third after his 70, with successive bogeys over the closing holes proving costly.
England’s Bronte Law kept herself in contention at the inaugural Buick LPGA Shanghai to sit three shots off the lead after the second round.
Law hit six birdies in a four-under-par 68 which saw her recover from bogeys on the 10th and 14th at Qizhong Garden Golf Club.
Korea’s Kim Sei-young produced a run of four straight birdies into the turn which helped her go on to lead the way with a 67, which leaves her at 10 under.
World number two Ariya Jutanugarn, the overnight leader, started with an eagle at the first hole, before then soon giving both shots back with successive bogeys.
The Thailand golfer finished with a 69 and is one shot off the pace.
American Danielle Kang is also tied for second at nine under after scoring five birdies in her 68.