Morrison shines amid Singapore storm

Morrison collected five birdies and two bogeys over the more difficult Serapong course to edge ahead of fellow overnight leader Molinari. The Italian was two under for the day through ten holes when play was suspended on account of the light following a delay of almost three hours due to lunchtime thunderstorms.

The 26-year-old Englishman began his second round level with Molinari on nine-under at the top of the leaderboard but immediately dropped a stroke at the first. A birdie at the seventh erased the damage but another bogey at the ninth saw Morrison drop to one over on the day.

However, Morrison fought back on the homeward nine, picking up birdies at the 11th, 13th and 14th before the weather intervened.

On the resumption of play, he was able to par the next three holes before an excellent approach to two feet on the par-five last brought another birdie and saw him move to 12 under par at the halfway mark. “This golf course is definitely harder and it can be tough coming from an easier course onto a tougher layout,” he said.

“I didn’t play as well today as I did yesterday but I managed to get it round and I am pretty happy with that, especially with a four-under back nine to finish strongly.”

Molinari had birdies at the fifth, seventh and tenth but a bogey at the par-three eighth when he missed the green saw him end the day 11 under.

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano was tied for third on ten under after the Spaniard blitzed the front nine of the Tanjong course with an eagle and four birdies before a bogey at the eighth set him back. He returns this morning to complete his second nine.

Graeme McDowell carded a 71 to finish three under and perilously close to the cut, while Colin Montgomerie will look to secure his place for the weekend when he resumes on the same score with four holes to play in his second round.