Singapore Open play-off postponed

A million-dollar playoff at the Barclays Singapore Open was interrupted not once, but twice by thunderstorms and eventually postponed in bizarre scenes on Sunday. Torrential rain and lightning strikes handed Filipino Juvic Pagunsan and Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano an agonising overnight wait and disappointed thousands of fans at Sentosa Golf Club. The two contenders will now return to the tropical resort course at 7:30 am on Monday (2330 GMT Sunday) to settle a play-off which they started nearly 17 hours earlier. Both players had teed off for the sudden-death play-off at the par-five 18th when the hooter sounded for a storm suspension, bringing groans of disbelief from the packed galleries. The two reappeared 90 minutes later to loud cheers, as workmen furiously mopped the 18th fairway, but managed only one shot each before a deafening thunderclap sent them scurrying back inside. Heavy downpours accompanied by forked lightning turned the 18th green into a paddling pool before officials finally cancelled the day's play at 6:10 pm. "It was dangerous out there. There was lightning flying around," said tournament director Mike Stewart. "We had to get everyone inside as quickly as possible." The US$6 million tournament had already been slashed from four to three rounds after rain washed out most of Saturday, and also spilled over into an extra day last year because of weather delays. Pagunsan is now being forced to wait for his shot at the US$1 million first prize, which would more than double his career earnings and make him the Philippines' first winner of a European Tour event. And Saturday leader Fernandez-Castano was left to contemplate an erratic final round in which he let slip a four-shot advantage with some nervy drives. "It will be interesting tomorrow morning. Confidence is getting stronger and stronger," said Pagunsan. "I can't say what will happen tomorrow. We're almost the same distance (with the third shot)." There had been drama at the climax of regulation play when the Spaniard, clinging on to a one-shot lead, drove into the water on the 18th and Pagunsan drained a 12-foot birdie putt to seemingly clinch victory. But the Spaniard rolled his own 12-foot putt downhill for a brave par save to force the still-undecided play-off, with both players locked at 14-under-par 199. "In my mind, I thought I was going to win, no play-off," Pagunsan said. "But he made the putt also. I'm still here and will wait for a result tomorrow." Most of the field, including a clutch of major-winners, will already have left Singapore and much of the crowd will be absent when the winner is eventually crowned. Resurgent US star Anthony Kim was seven-under for the day as he departed with a share of third alongside 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen on 13-under-par 200. Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari, New Zealand's Danny Lee and Joost Luiten of the Netherlands were a shot further back while Englishman James Morrison, the joint round one leader alongside Molinari, closed on 202. England's Justin Rose had a share of ninth on 203, two shots better than 2009 US Open winner Graeme McDowell, who shook off a bout of stomach cramps to charge to five-under-par 66 on the last day. Tournament drawcard Phil Mickelson closed with one-under 70 for overall five-under 208 before flying off to the Presidents Cup in Melbourne. South Korea's 2009 PGA Championship winner Y.E. Yang was two over par on the last day to finish level with Ernie Els on six-under. Retief Goosen ended at four-under and Colin Montgomerie was three-under-par 210.