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DAY 2
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November 12th 2011, Singapore: Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano is 18 holes away from becoming the new Barclays Singapore Open champion after organisers reduced the tournament to a 54-hole affair following another tropical thunderstorm on Saturday.

Fernandez-Castano blitzed the back nine of the Tanjong course in the morning en route to a stunning 10-under-par 61 to complete his second round and open up a three-shot lead over Italian Ryder Cup star Edoardo Molinari and England’s James Morrison, who carded matching 68s.

The third round subsequently started at 11am at the Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course before poor weather rolled in to force the suspension of play at 11.47am. After a five-hour wait, officials called off play for the day and announced the Barclays Singapore Open would be reduced to a three-round tournament.

Filipino Juvic Pagunsan will be Asia’s best hope as he will enter the final day five back from Fernandez-Castano in fourth place while Korea’s Y.E. Yang, Asia’s first male Major champion, is seven shots behind in equal eighth position.
A four-time winner in Europe, Fernandez-Castano said there was still a long way to go before he can dream of ending a three-year winless run at Asia’s richest national Open which is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

“There is a long way to go with 18 holes tomorrow and there are some great players just behind me. It’s going to be a tough day so I have to go out there and play my own game and see what happens,” said the 31-year-old, who leads on 15-under-par 127.

It has been a wonderful return to form for the Spaniard who was hit by a back injury earlier this year. Last month, he finished second in a home event and credited the “claw” putting grip for his resurgence.

“To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to play again. So after spending six months on the bench I am very proud of the way I have been able to come back,” he said.

“It’s a shame that the tournament has to be reduced to 54 holes. It’s good for me to be leading after 36 but I don’t think that’s what anyone wants - players, sponsors, officials, spectators, Sentosa – everyone would rather be playing 72 holes. Barclays are an amazing sponsor and this is one of the best tournaments on the schedule but there is nothing we can do about the weather.”

Molinari, who won twice in Europe last season to earn a maiden Ryder Cup appearance, said the pressure was on Fernandez-Castano in Sunday’s shootout. “A three-shot lead is not a huge lead. I think all the pressure is now on Gonzalo. He is three ahead and all of a sudden he has only one round to play. You know, it is almost his to lose,” said Molinari.

Sweet-swinging Pagunsan, who did not hit a single shot today, feels he still has a chance to stage an upset at the Barclays Singapore Open despite having only one round to catch the leader.

“We still have a chance. I’ll try to make a charge tomorrow. I’ll keep to the same strategy which is to hit fairways and greens. If I’m lucky, I’ll hole some putts,” said the Asian Tour regular.

“I’m still feeling comfortable with my game. I’m excited about tomorrow. I just need to go out and give myself a chance, just play good. I’m happy so far this week. I’ve been mentally strong. Everything is good, driving and hitting my irons well and mentally I’ve been good. I’m looking forward to it tomorrow.”

European Tour tournament director Mike Stewart explained: “The biggest problem has been the lightning activity in the area which has made it too dangerous to be on the golf course and that is continuing as we speak.

“Our cut off point for having any chance of playing 72 holes was to get them on the golf course by 5pm this afternoon. Once we could not do this there was no real opportunity to complete 72 holes. If we cannot complete tomorrow then we are more than likely to come back on Monday morning. All being well, we anticipate the final putt being around 2pm tomorrow.”