London's Brian Davis survived
all that the unseasonal South African weather could throw at him to claim a slender
lead in the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
The 25-year-old from Enfield
was due off in the second group this morning at 6.40am local time at Houghton.
But an overnight thunderstorm and torrential rain left parts of the course under
water and led to a five-and-a-half-hour delay for the 156-strong field.
Davis, seeking a first European
Tour win, adopted a relaxed approach to the delay, catching 40 winks in the locker
room before finally beginning his round shortly after noon.
And after a shaky start,
opening with a bogey five on the 10th - his first hole - he continued to shrug
off the continuing rain, posting two birdies to reach the turn in 35.
A hat-trick of birdies in
six holes on the back nine then leapfrogged Davis to the head of the field at
four under par with three holes to play, one shot ahead of little-known American
Ronnie McCann.
Former Masters champion
Ian Woosnam, aiming to play his way back into Europe's Ryder Cup team after missing
out on Brookline, was level par after 13 holes of his round while playing partner
Jarmo Sandelin was one over.
Open runner-up Jean Van
de Velde was staging a brave fightback after being five over par after seven
holes, three birdies around the turn getting him back in contention at two over.
A large group of players
were two shots off the pace at two under par including Scotland's Gary Orr, who
briefly held the lead at four under before two straight bogeys, and midlander
Steve Webster.
