Morrison storms ahead in rain-hit Singapore

John O'Brien

JAMES Morrison enjoyed the best of the conditions at a rain-hit Singapore Open today, the joint overnight leader firing a second round three-under 68 to move two shots clear of the field.

Morrison, tied with Italy's Edorado Molinari on nine under par after the first round, had completed 14 holes of his second round on the more difficult Serapong Course before a weather delay forced the players off the course for almost three hours.

The 26-year-old returned to par the next three holes before a beautiful approach shot on the par-five 18th hole set up a tap-in birdie to send him into the clubhouse on 12-under for the $6 million tournament, being played over two courses.

"I didn't play as well as I did yesterday but did enough to get round and I finished strongly," Morrison said.

Filipino Juvic Pagunsan surged up the leaderboard with a second straight five-under 66 to sit two adrift of Morrison and one ahead of Molinari, three holes into his second round, and Dane Anders Hansen, who fired a bogey-free, seven-under 64.

Pagunsan put his improved display down to some minor adjustments he had made off the course.

"My concentration and my fitness have improved," the Filipino said.

Further down the leaderboard, Briton Justin Rose, American Anthony Kim and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen were all making major moves into the top 10 with a handful of holes remaining in their rounds.

Tournament drawcards Graeme McDowell (three-under with two holes to play) and Phil Mickelson (even par after three holes) are both struggling to make the cut.