By Brendan JamesGolf Australia Editorat the Australian OpenStuart Appleby has defied strong winds and the boredom of a five-hour suspension of play to open up a three-stroke lead late in the second day of the Australian Open.
Beginning his second round on the 10th tee at 7.40 this morning, Appleby had played just two holes when tournament officials ordered a halt to play because gale force winds, gusting up to 70km/h, had made four oceanside greens unplayable.
The 2001 Australian Open champion went back out onto the course five and a half hours later and quickly moved to seven under with a birdie at the par-5 12th. A bogey at the next was simply a speed bump to Appleby who ended his opening nine holes with a birdie at 17 and an eagle at the long par-5 18th.
With the winds starting to ease and shift more to the east, scoring has become marginally easier but the NSW layout is still averaging a high 75.91.
If Appleby can maintain his advantage through today he can come back fresh for the third round later tomorrow, while players in the other half of the draw - including overnight co-leader Scott Hend, and close by contenders James Nitties and Adam Scott - will have to finish their second round early tomorrow before heading back out for their third round.
At this stage, Appleby is firing and seemingly well in control. Many are already predicting he will be a wire-to-wire champion. What do you think?
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