Andy Sullivan of England recorded a second straight 5-under-par 67 and had a one-stroke lead over amateur Bryson DeChambeau when darkness halted play on a day fog delayed the start of the second round in Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for nearly three hours at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates.
Sullivan started on the back nine with three consecutive birdies and made three more as he finished on the front, while DeChambeau was tied for the lead before carding his only bogey at No. 18 as he finished only nine holes.
“I think today was even more impressive than yesterday,” said the 28-year-old Sullivan, who claimed his first three European Tour victories last year. “I think yesterday, I had it under a lot of control and it felt quite easy. Today, started off great, lost my way through the middle part of the round and dug deep and finished really strong with three birdies.
“I think on the whole, much much happier with today and obviously it puts me in good stead finishing that way for the rest of the tournament. I feel totally different coming in. This time last year, I had already won but still felt this tournament of this magnitude with the players, I knew that I would have to go some to do it. Coming in this year, I know if I bring my A Game, I’m going to have a good chance at being up there now.”
DeChambeau, who last year joined Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Ryan Moore as the only players to win the U.S. Amateur and the NCAA Championship in the same year, was the first-round leader at 64 and birdied two of his first three holes in the second round.
He was among 60 players on the course when darkness came and they will return early on Saturday.
Joost Luiten of the Netherlands shot 67 and was three shots back in a tie for third with Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain, who had a 68, while Thomas Bjorn of Denmark and Richard Bland also were three back while still on the course, each with seven holes to play.
Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Martin Kaymer of Germany all were tied for ninth, five strokes behind, early in the back nine, while Henrik Stenson of Sweden was another stroke back in a tie for 20th.
Top-ranked Jordan Spieth was seven shots down in a tie for 26th after 12 holes.
Among those who will miss the cut are Ernie Els of South Africa and Lee Westwood of England, who both finished at 73-76–149, while Mike Weir of Canada, who opened with an 80, was 1-over after nine holes of round and two 10 shots from making the weekend rounds.
