SINGAPORE - Ryo Ishikawa had begun Friday's second round at the SMBC Singapore Open with five birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey. Thankfully for him, the rain came and put a halt to that erratic show.
On Saturday morning (Jan 20), the Japanese steadied the ship with three birdies on the back nine to sign for a five-under 66 and a share of the halfway lead with Thai Chapchai Nirat on seven-under 135.
Ishikawa's flight-mates did not do too badly themselves.
Masters champion and first-round leader Sergio Garcia shot a 70 to lie one stroke behind Ishikawa on 136, while Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Gavin Green had a 67 for a two-day total of 138.
Japan's Masahiro Kawamura (69-67) and American Casey O'Toole (68-68) were among the other top performers for the second round's afternoon flight, and are also on six-under 136. They share second spot with Tirawat Kaewsiribandit and Shaun Norris, who completed their rounds on Friday.
India's Jyoti Randhawa had been on track to join Ishikawa and Chapchai at the top of the leaderboard but dropped three shots in his last three holes to fall back to four-under 138 (68-70).
The conclusion of the US$1 million (S$1.3 million) Singapore Open's second round also saw several big names miss the cut.
Defending champion Prayad Marksaeng (72-71) and world No. 36 Yuta Ikeda (70-73) both missed the cut by a stroke, finishing at one-over 143.
The third round is now underway at the Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong course.