David Drysdale shares lead in wet Durban

DAVID Drysdale was among five players sharing the lead when persistent rain forced organisers to abandon the first day of the South African Open in Durban.

The adverse weather conditions meant only half the field teed off at the 100th edition of the competition, with just six players completing nine holes. Drysdale, who had played seven holes, was tied on two-under with South Africans Retief Goosen (through four holes), Divan van den Heever (six) and Martin Maritz (six) as well as Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen (eight).

Defending champion Richie Ramsay was on one-over through four holes, a solitary bogey coming on the par-4 11th.

The persistent drizzle, which made parts of the course unplayable, left organisers having to wait more than five- and-a-half hours before they made a final call on proceedings. They now plan to dedicate today to round one and tomorrow to round two.