DP World Tour: Chinese amateur Ding Wenyi joins Mckibbin atop leader board at Singapore Classic
- An hour’s play is lost to heavy storm at Laguna National Golf Resort Club, but Ding moves to 11-under before bad light cuts day short
- Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin, who held the first-round lead, was able to complete his round with a three-under-par 69
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China’s Ding Wenyi had a birdie on the par-five 13th to thank as he moved atop the leader board to join Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin before play was suspended because of fading light at the Singapore Classic on Friday.
Ding marked his card with a pair of birdies and eagles, as well as a bogey on two, and was at 11-under after 14 holes before he had to leave the course because of darkness.
In contrast, Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho is likely to miss the cut after struggling to one-over through 13 overs to sit on level-par for the tournament, three shots shy of the cut line.
Kho will return on Saturday needing to birdie four of the last holes to be in with a chance of playing in the final two rounds.
An hour of play was lost because of heavy rain that flooded the course at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club in the late afternoon.
McKibbin, who held the first-round lead, was pleased he was able to complete his round with a three-under-par 69 as he was already standing on the fairway on 18 when the sirens went off.
“I just hoped we would finish it off. I didn’t fancy coming back early in the morning to hit three shots, so I’m very happy I managed to finish it,” said the 20-year-old.
“The conditions were also very challenging today and I’m happy I can now go back, get some rest and go out to see how I can play over the weekend now.”
McKibbin enjoyed a fast start with four birdies on holes three, five, six and eight to reach the turn in 31.
But he lost that momentum with two dropped shots on 11 and 13 before recovering with another birdie on 14.
He then parred the next four holes to reach the clubhouse with a two-day total of 11-under-par 133.
Ding meanwhile stumbled early with a bogey on the second hole.
But the 18-year-old reigning US Junior Amateur champion was quick to bounce back with an eagle on five followed by a birdie on six.
He then carded another eagle on 11, a birdie on 13 and par on 14 before darkness fell.
Thirty-nine players will have to return at 8.15am to resume their second round at the Singapore Classic, with the DP World Tour returning to Singapore for the first time since 2014.
