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Chopra leads delayed Singapore Open

Golf Singapore Open update:Sweden's Daniel Chopra fired a flawless six-under-par 65 to take the clubhouse lead on the second day of the €3.4million Barclays Singapore Open where another lengthy weather delay has put the tournament well behind schedule.

Chopra was one of only 61 players to finish their second rounds after another stop-start day at the Sentosa Golf Club and his seven-under par total put him two shots clear of those who have completed 36 holes.

First round leader Ian Poulter and Taiwanese qualifier Chan Yih-shin are also on seven-under for the tournament but both have yet to reach the turn and will return with a majority of the field to complete their second rounds tomorrow morning.

Australia's Andrew Dodt and China's Liang Wenchong are two shots further back on five under after both recorded 68s, along with Japan's Kodai Ichihara, who only completed six holes of his second round.

Ernie Els is a further shot adrift after three holes of his second round, the South African joining England's Ross McGowan (69), India's Gaganjeet Bhullar (67) and Australia's Scott Hend (66) in a share of seventh place.

Chopra walked off the course in near darkness yesterday after limping through eight holes of his opening round in two-over-par. But he returned early today and played 28 holes of bogey-free golf to rocket to the top of the leaderboard.

Starting his second round on one-under, the 35-year-old went out in 32 to move into contention and pulled clear of the chasing pack with back-to-back birdies on six and seven (his 15th and 16th).

Graeme McDowell is currently the best-placed Irishman on two-under after picking up two birdies through four holes. Peter Lawrie is a shot further back after as many holes, while Darren Clarke completed his round of 69 to reach the halfway stage on level par - the projected cut is two-over par.

That means Pádraig Harrington is flirting with the cut on one-over. The three-time major winner made up for for a poor opening 74 with today's 69 but it remains to be seen if he will make the cut.

Gary Murphy, playing on a sponsor's invite, has the sole objective of securing his tour card for next season and making the cut will go some way towards achieving that goal. A second round 71 leaves the Kilkenny pro on the bubble at two-over. Paul McGinley was also two-over but with only two holes of his second round completed.

Damien McGrane's 72 left the Meath pro three-over, while Irish Open champion Shane Lowry was on the same mark and needing at least a birdie at the last to have any chance of hanging around for the final two rounds.

Michael Hoey's adventure is over for despite a 69 he finished four-over.

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