Dunne ten behind Wiesberger in China
SHENZHEN, CHINA - APRIL 21: Bernd Wiesberger of Austria plays a shot during the second round of the Shenzhen International at Genzon Golf Club on April 21, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
Paul Dunne closed with an eagle three but a level par 72 saw him slip 10 strokes behind clubhouse leader Bernd Wiesberger in the weather-delayed Shenzhen International.
Dunne had another day of mixed fortunes at Genzon Golf Club, following his triple bogey seven at the fifth in the first round with a double bogey six on Friday.
A closing eagle three at the ninth helped the Wicklow man match par but he's tied for 30th on two-under and has work to do to catch Wiesberger, who fired an impressive bogey-free 65 to open up a four-shot lead before the second round was suspended due to storms.
The Austrian has not missed a cut in the past eight months and has claimed seven top-five finishes as he edges closer to a fourth European Tour title in his first appearance in the event.
The morning wave completed their second rounds before the storms arrived bringing lightning and heavy rain, with none of the afternoon players having completed more than nine holes.
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Wiesberger had returned to complete his first round in the morning after Thursday's delay, birdieing the 17th to get within one of the lead, and he added a further seven gains in round two to get to 12 under.
South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli and Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen emerged as his closest challengers after rounds of 68, with Scotland’s Richie Ramsay a further shot back alongside France's Grégory Bourdy and round one leader Bubba Watson, who were on course when the hooter sounded at 1440.
George Coetzee, Scott Jamieson and Jordan Smith were then in the clubhouse at six under alongside Haydn Porteous who had completed eight holes.
The second round will resume at 0630 on Saturday, with round three set to go off two tees in three-balls no earlier than 1130.
Bernd Wiesberger
“I can’t complain about the score today. It was a long day, I got up at 0430 to finish a couple of holes. I started well and picked up from the day before. I hit a drive down 17 early in the morning and got my round in of 67 so I was pleased with that and I kept going that way driving the ball nicely and putting really well.
“I was feeling comfortable when I was getting the ball on the green and rolling in well on the green, so that was key for me today to get something in the mid 60’s.
“I played a few holes on Tuesday and I said to my caddie it feels like a course that suits me and suits my game. I knew I was playing decent coming into this week, I’ve had good golfing weeks over in the States and just couldn’t get the results going and it just feels nice over here, everything has kind of synced in nicely.
“Let’s hope we have a bit of luck with the weather this afternoon and the guys are getting as many holes in as possible, as I said it was an early morning today so trying to just recover a little bit and have a relaxing afternoon.
The best of @BWiesberger's 65 in 60 seconds.#ShenzhenIntl pic.twitter.com/cFL8LIMnrZ
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 21, 2017
Dylan Frittelli
“It was a good round today, another 68 on the cards and one bad mistake but besides that I played great.
“George played great today, made a bunch of birdies and an eagle there on 17 so it was really nice to follow him around the course. He also had a couple of mistakes, but if he keeps the bogeys off the card, he is going to be a threat this weekend.
“I have been in contention. Last week was close there on the back nine, so I am feeling comfortable under pressure, and hopefully, I can continue to play well on the weekend.
Thorbjørn Olesen
“To be honest, I felt like I hit it a bit better yesterday. I hit a few loose drives today but managed to keep it in play and hit some good wedges. I hit a few really close and made the birdies I needed to make and no mistakes, so that was nice to see.
“Today I hit a really poor tee shot on 18, and it’s a tough hole, but it was actually a good bogey in the end, up and down for bogey, so I’ll take that, but besides that I was always on the green close to the pin, so it was pretty easy not to make too many bogeys today.
“I am a bit tired, started early this morning and it has been very hot here, so I would like to have a little bit of a rest and feel good again, so I’m ready to try and shoot a good number tomorrow.
Play has been suspended at the #ShenzhenIntl. pic.twitter.com/JE0DGuFUqB
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 20, 2017
Richie Ramsay
“We had three holes to finish this morning, and when you alarm goes at five to four it’s not the easiest to get out of bed but I played very solid, I hit 17 greens and had lots and lots of chances, so four under is nice sitting tucked in behind a few guys looking good for the weekend.
“For some reason, I tend to play well in China, I enjoy coming out here, it’s just somewhere that I feel like I play good golf. I’m looking forward to getting back out there, a few less putts on the weekend would be good, and there is definitely a lot of competition around me, but this is what I play for, to get in this position for the weekend.
Jordan Smith
“I hit it really well, I just didn’t quite hole the putts I should have, but it was very similar to yesterday. I sort of struggled around the turn and bogeyed the 18th but it was nice to get a couple of birdies on the back nine.
“I am looking forward to it tomorrow, it’s a good field and good tournament, so it should be fun.
George Coetzee
“I felt like I played pretty well. I was a little uncomfortable on a couple of holes that I probably should have maybe taken a different club, but hopefully, I have learnt my lesson come tomorrow. I feeling pretty good about my game, quite happy with the score, quite a lot of birdies and a nice eagle there on 17 but otherwise it is a good day.
“I enjoyed it, the greens are good, and the surfaces are good, everything is in pretty good nick, so you just have to play your way around the golf course. I think I am due a couple of good draws, I’m quite happy with this, it’s nice to maybe go put my feet up and watch some golf on the TV now for the rest of the afternoon. Hopefully, I will be in the mix come Sunday.
