DURBAN, South Africa (AP) Players will need a third day to complete the first round at the Nelson Mandela Championship after rain again disrupted the European Tour event's schedule on Thursday.
After a seven-hour delay on Wednesday, only a little more than four hours' play was possible on thesecond day before the Mount Edgecombe Country Club course became unplayable again because of heavy downpours.
The tournament was brought forward a day so it won't be played on Sunday out of respect for the funeral of Mandela, the former South African president.
Englishman Daniel Brooks was still the clubhouse leader after an 8-under 62 on South Africa's east coast, which he completed on Wednesday. Three Frenchmen were right behind him, with Francois Camels second after a 63 and Edouard Dubois and Romain Wattel another shot back in a tie for third.
South Africa's Oliver Bekker also moved to 6 under through 14 holes before players were called off again. More than 50 players were still to complete their first rounds.
"You just keep your head down and grind. There's nothing you can do about it," Bekker said of the weather.
He made the biggest move in the short time the players were out on Thursday, making his sixth birdie on No. 14 to move within two shots of Brooks on the par-70 layout. Sweden's Joel Sjoholm and Zimbabwe's Ryan Cairns were tied for sixth after both carded 65s in their opening rounds.
Players will return to complete their first rounds at 6 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) on Friday, with the second round to be played directly after that.
