Brit Callum Shinkwin catapulted up the leaderboard at the Shenzhen International yesterday in an unfinished third round of play, which was pushed back by numerous weather delays.
Thunderstorms at the Genzon Golf Club in southern China meant a loss of more than six-and-a-half hours of play over the first two days of the tournament. Yesterday’s third round play was also suspended due to bad light, with only 20 players having completed their rounds.
Yet, despite the unfavourable conditions, Shinkwin shot a 10-under-par 62 that bumped him up to second, behind South Korea’s Soomin Lee.
During delayed round two play earlier in the day, Australian Scott Hend (pic), winner of last month’s True Thailand Classic, fired an albatross that also put him hot on Lee’s heels.
Hend, winner of last month’s True Thailand Classic, shot a seven-under-par 65, equalling the low round of the week with a rare combination of an eagle and an albatross.
“It’s my sixth albatross, so it’s always nice to make an albatross, especially in the tournament,” the 46-year-old said in comments posted on the European Tour website.
At the end of round two, Hend was tied fourth with England’s Lee Slattery (66) on eight-under-par 136.
First-round co-leaders Alexander Levy of France and England’s Tommy Fleetwood carded matching 72s to drop into a share of ninth place along with Spaniard Nacho Elvira (68) in round two. Neither had time to play in round three.  
Earlier in the day, American world number four and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson fired a 69 to go into a five-way tie for 16th place, nine shots behind the leader.

Kapur closes in Japan win
India’s Shiv Kapur fired a two-under-par 69 to grab a one-stroke lead from Japan’s Kodai Ichihara at the Panasonic Open after yesterday’s third round.
After 14 straight pars, Kapur carded back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16 to reach the clubhouse at nine-under 204 at the $1.25 million event sanctioned by the Japanese and Asian tours.
Overnight leader Ichihara, chasing a maiden career victory in Chiba, southeast of Tokyo, finished in regulation to lie one adrift with Australia’s Marcus Fraser—the current Order of Merit leader—a further shot back after a 67.
Helped by a 40-foot save on the eighth hole, Kapur put himself in prime position to become the third Indian to win in Japan after Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa.
“That save was a bonus and kept my head in it,” said Kapur. “You can’t play average golf and win. I have to go out and play good golf.”
South Korea’s KT Kim, bidding to win for the second week running, Taiwan’s Hung Chien-yao, Korean Lee Sang-hee and Thailand’s Khrongpha Thanyakorn were tied with Fraser at 206, along with Japan’s Yuta Ikeda.

Steele three ahead in Texas
Brendan Steele took advantage of relatively calm conditions at one of his favourite venues to earn a three-shot lead in the second round of the weather-disrupted Texas Open in San Antonio on Friday.
American Steele, the 2011 champion, mixed six birdies with two bogeys and a double at the par-four 15th to card two-under 70 on the rain-softened Oaks layout at TPC San Antonio. In pursuit of his second career win on the PGA Tour, he posted a 10-under total of 134 to match the tournament’s 36-hole low set by compatriot Ben Curtis in 2012.
Americans Scott Langley (68) and Charley Hoffman (71) shared second place on seven-under with Australian Stuart Appleby, who recovered from a nightmare start to shoot 70.
Appleby four-putted from seven feet at his first hole, the 10th, twice missing from two feet before finally holing out for a triple bogey.
The cut will fall at even-par 144, with South African Branden Grace, winner of last week’s Heritage Classic, advancing on the number after consecutive rounds of 72. Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els were among those set to miss the cut.

Nomura goes 3 shots clear
Japan’s Haru Nomura produced a strong finish on the tougher back nine to take a three-shot lead after the second round at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in San Francisco.
The 23-year-old bided her time with 11 consecutive pars, before rolling in 12-foot birdies at the next two holes as she signed for a two-under-par 70 to move clear of the field in a testing breeze at the Lake Merced Golf Club.
“I keep my patience, so I’m so relaxed, and a couple putts in, and that’s it,” Nomura, who won the Women’s Australian Open in February, said after reaching the halfway mark on a nine-under 135 total.
Australian teenager Minjee Lee, coming off a victory at the LOTTE Championship in Hawaii last week, continued her strong form when she surged into a share of second with a bogey-free 65. Lee was joined at six-under by overnight leader Ryu So-yeon (75) and Choi Na-yeon (70) of South Korea, with two-time defending champion Lydia Ko a further shot back after two late bogeys.
Ko, who turns 19 today, is seeking to become the youngest player to
win an LPGA event for three consecutive years.