On a day when Sam Torrance's tournament was curtailed by an injured thumb, bad weather also put paid to a lengthy chunk of play on day two of the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship.
Heavy mist engulfed Slaley Hall midway through the afternoon bringing play grinding to a halt for more than two-and-a-half hours with Gordon Brand Junior a shot clear on at the top of the leaderboard on four under par. Play resumed at 5.30pm but it's set to be a late finish.
Torrance had earlier been forced to withdraw after just five holes suffering from the effects of a sprained thumb which made gripping the club difficult. Another casualty was former Senior PGA Professional champion Donald Stirling who succumbed to a ricked neck.
Angel Franco is the clubhouse leader, adding a level par 72 to his first round 69. The South American produced a blistering start picking up three shots with an early birdie and eagle on 11 and 12 but despite adding two further birdies he dropped five shots to stay at three under for the tournament.
Franco, who is chasing his maiden victory after finishing runner up three times on the European Senior Tour, said he was disappointed with his finish but happy overall with his position going into the weekend.
"It was a different day and different conditions," he said. "The rain and wind make it difficult but I'm still really happy about my round today.
"Tomorrow is when it starts getting serious. The position I'm in today is not important - it is the position I'm in on Saturday and Sunday that matters. I'm focussed on that."
Carl Mason and Christopher Williams thrust themselves into the reckoning with two under par 70s to sit a shot off the lead while Northern Ireland's Jimmy Heggarty and Scotland's John Chillas both posted 69s and lie at one under.
Heggarty has been spending hours on the practice range and believes he is finally starting to reap some of the benefits.
"I haven't performed since Brunei early in the season but I've been working hard on my game and I feel it's coming so who knows what could happen at the weekend," he said.
"I shot 82 in the first round last week and then 69,72, and I shot level par for the three rounds at Jersey which was good for me and which I haven't done before so they are all little stepping stones.
"It's just a matter of keeping going and Bertus Smit winning last week gives us all hope."
Chillas carved out four birdies on the back nine and is looking for a spark to take his game to the next level.
"My form has been too steady," he said. "The last three tournaments I've finished between 10 and 16th I keep getting dug in around 15th," he said.
"I need to find something extra but I'm here for the weekend, the putts are going in and I'm hitting it close so I'm in with a chance."
26 June, 2009