Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño turn the heat up

A brilliant back nine of 30 for Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño on the resumption of round two of the Barclays Singapore Open propelled the Spaniard into a three stroke lead at Sentosa Golf Club.

After the previous day’s delays caused by thunderstorms, players returned to the course to complete their second rounds, and it was Fernandez-Castaño who made the big move with five birdies on his back nine of the Tanjong Course for a ten under par 61 and halfway total of 15 under par.

That took the four-time European Tour winner three clear of overnight leader James Morrison of England and Italian Edoardo Molinari. The Ryder Cup star picked up an early birdie on the 12th as he resumed his round on the Serapong course before parring in for a 68 share of second place on 12 under par.

A runner-up finish to Sergio Garcia in the Castelló Masters along with sixth place in the Bankia Madrid Masters and 12th in the Andalucía Masters showed a welcome return to form on home soil for Fernandez-Castaño, and he has carried that on to Singapore with a breath-taking display.

"I am thrilled as you don’t shoot ten under very often," said Fernandez-Castaño. "You don’t really know how the suspensions are going to affect you.

"I was lucky because yesterday I didn’t tee off before the thunderstorm. I took my time. I took it easy and started well with three birdies. It was great and then I had a good start again this morning. I played well of course. To play well you need to hole putts and that is what I did."

A total of 80 players made the cut on three under par 139.

Only a handful of those had began their third rounds when play was suspended due to the threat of lightning.