Golf: Marcus Fraser sees a chance not to be missed after fog

AUSTRALIA'S Marcus Fraser remained on course for a wire-to-wire victory at the weather-affected Ballantine's Championship after securing a one-shot advantage over defending champion Thongchai Jaidee, Gareth Maybin and Tano Goya heading into today's third and final round.

Fraser dropped his first shot of the week in a patient two-under-par second-round 70 on a bright but windy third day at Pinx Golf Club to top the leaderboard at nine-under-par with one round remaining after first-day fog delays forced officials to cut the tournament to 54 holes.

Belfast's Maybin posted a second consecutive 68, which also included his only blemish in 36 holes, to join overnight clubhouse leaders Thongchai and Goya, who had battled blustery conditions to set the early pace at eight-under-par on Friday.

And with the equally testing winds also restricting scoring yesterday, Thongchai's superb second-round 67 and Goya's hard-fought round of 70 kept the pair firmly in the mix a shot clear of Ernie Els, Ted Oh and Brett Rumford.

"I am very happy," said 31-year-old Fraser. "I played really well, I just didn't make a couple of putts through the start of the round."

Scot David Drysdale shot a second-round 68 to take him onto 140, five shots behind the leader, while his countryman Stephen Gallacher added a 73 to a first-round 71 for a total of 144. Three other Scots – Marc Warren (72, 74), Alastair Forsyth (73, 76), and Peter Whiteford (72, 77) – missed the cut.