Golf: Pair lead into second round

Richard Swift shows the action that's kept him in the lead. Picture / Getty Images

MELBOURNE: Australians Matthew Keegan and Richard Swift were the second round leaders at the rain-hit Australian PGA golf tournament at Coolum yesterday.

With virtually no play possible on Thursday at the Queensland course, organisers set an early tee time for the resumption of play.

However, overnight rain delayed the start for 90 minutes while morning showers also caused problems and play was then abandoned early with Keegan and Swift on five-under par.

Keegan completed eight holes of his second round, firing birdies on the 12th and 16th to join Swift, who has yet to start his second round, in the lead.

Swift had started in a share of the lead at four-under before he picked up another shot to finish his first round on 67.

Nathan Green, Mathew Goggin and Robert Allenby were all one shot off the pace on four-under par, but none could make a start on their second round.

US Open champion Michael Campbell shot a one-under 71 on his first round and is tied for ninth on two-under after nine holes.

Another New Zealander Bradley Iles was on one-under.

The day's play was also highlighted by hole-in-ones from Chris Beckett and Michael McGrath.

Beckett nailed his on the par-three 14th hole before McGrath followed it when his tee shot on the 194-metre third hole crawled along the saturated green and into the cup.

Despite their aces both were well out of contention.

Beckett was on 14 over par after he shot 80 in his first round and was six over through 13 on his second, while McGrath was nine over after he shot 74 on his first round and was seven over through 14 on his second.

- REUTERS