Norway’s Kristian Krogh Johannessen returned on Saturday morning and birdied four of the last five holes of the weather-interrupted second round to take the lead on 11 under par in the SDC Championship at St Francis Links.
The second round was suspended on Friday as a result of the gusting wind. The golfers returned early on a far calmer Saturday morning and Johannessen took advantage with his round of 66.
It has earned him a three-stroke lead over Frenchman Julien Brun as they now head straight into the third round.
“I think it was a fair call to stop play yesterday. Today we had nice weather and it was time to go low,” said Johannessen.
“I’m very pleased with my finish today. I holed a couple of nice putts. But the big thing on this golf course is to keep it in play off the tees here.”
Johannessen has prepared himself for a long day on Saturday as the field completed the second round and then headed straight into the third round.
“I haven’t played close to 36 holes on one day since I was an amateur. Hopefully I’ll get a rest and then be ready. It’s going to be a long day. But I think the weather should stay the same and then the golf course is nice and playable.”
The conditions were certainly more favourable and the field responded with two holes-in-one on Saturday morning.
England’s Dan Bradbury was the first to hole out with a nine iron on the par-three 17th hole, and he was followed by South Africa’s Wynand Dingle, also with a nine iron on the same hole.
