SHANGHAI, 2 May 2005 — Ernie Els edged closer to the Asian Open title yesterday as he surged to 22 under par but the world No. 3 must wait one more day today to finish the job.
Heavy storms halted play for over three hours on Sunday morning before most players had even started the final round at Shanghai’s Tomson Golf Club.
Els picked up three more birdies over the six holes he managed to complete in fading light to stretch his lead over Britain’s Simon Wakefield to eight strokes.
However, the South African was clearly unhappy at the decision by organizers for the tournament to be decided over the full 72 holes. Thunder and lightning brought play to a halt at 8:55 a.m. local (0155 GMT) and did not resume until just after noon.
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn was third on 12 under with Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin a further shot behind in fourth, both players having completed seven holes.
Britain’s Colin Montgomerie closed with a 70 to finish at two under par but six-times major winner Nick Faldo suffered in the wet, battling to a 78 and a five-over total of 293.
DiMarco Moves Ahead in Rain-Hit New Orleans
Chris DiMarco moved into a one-shot lead over a surging James Driscoll at the $5.5 million Zurich Classic of New Orleans when third-round play was suspended due to darkness on Saturday.
After two tournaments without disruptions, the foul weather that has blighted the PGA Tour this season returned, with heavy rain and severe thunderstorms at the TPC at Louisiana delaying the start of play five hours.
Back in action for the first time since his playoff loss to Tiger Woods at the US Masters three weeks ago, DiMarco was flawless once play began, going four-under through 10 holes to leave the American at 12-under for the tournament. Driscoll, however, was having the round of the day when the players were called in, going six-under-par through 11 holes to vault up the leaderboard.
India’s Arjun Atwal began the day with a stroke advantage over the field but slipped down to third after a double-bogey on the par-five seventh left him on one-over through 10 and two adrift of the leader at 10-under.
Americans Lucas Glover, J.J. Henry and Tim Petrovic sit one shot further back on nine-under with holes to play.
Prammanasudh Grabs LPGA Lead as Ochoa Fights to Keep Crown
In Franklin, Tennessee, American Stacy Prammanasudh fired a seven-under par 65 on Saturday to grab a two-stroke lead over defending champion Lorena Ochoa after 54 holes at the LPGA Franklin Championship.
Prammanasudh, whose best career LPGA finish was a third-place showing here last year, birdied three of the last four holes on the front and back nines to stand on 11-under par 205 after three rounds at the one million-dollar event. Prammanasudh was among the fortunate golfers who finished her second round Friday and was helped by the extra time to relax.
Mexico’s Ochoa was second after back-to-back rounds of 68, completing the final seven holes of her rain-interrupted second round and her entire third round on a marathon Saturday to stand on 207.
