Singapore Classic cut short

Sporting News Logo

The Singapore Classic has been cut down to 54 holes due to bad weather, after players were reduced to just a few holes on Saturday.

Malaysia's Shaaban Hussin will start Sunday's play atop the leaderboard on nine under, but he is yet to tee off on his third - and now, final - round after thunderstorms limited play at the Orchid Country Club.

Australians Scott Hend and Kieran Pratt are tied for fifth on seven-under par, two shots behind leader Shaaban.

Hend is two under through two holes, while Pratt is even par after one hole.

Shaaban said the weather should not prove a distraction to the field.

"I think for professional golfers like us, we should be prepared for anything that may happen during the tournament. I just have to focus on my game," he said.

Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant - the overnight leader - shot one-over 71 to sit second on eight under, joint with Japan's Daisuke Kataoka and American David Lipsky.

Lipsky said it was not ideal that the tournament was cut short by a round.

"Ideally, I would like to play 72 holes but we've no control over the weather and I'm just going out there to prove that I can play my best this week," Lipsky said.

Filipino golfer Elmer Salvador is tied for 14th spot, three shots behind leader Shaaban, but received a welcome boost on Saturday when awarded a cheque for US$1000 from sponsor ISPS' chairman Dr Haruhisa Handa.

Salvador narrowly missed out on maiden wins in two ISPS-sponsored tournaments in the past, which saw Dr Handa encourage him to earn the breakthrough win.

Author(s)