Cameron Smith has rocketed into medal contention after being the big mover during the second round of the Olympic men’s golf championship.
Thunderstorms forced the suspension of play for the second day running at the Kasumigaseki Country Club – but not before Smith produced his own power surge up the leaderboard.
The Australian No.1 climbed from equal 41st overnight following a ho-hum even-par first round into a share of fifth spot after collecting six birdies in his first 14 holes on Friday.
At six under, Smith was just two strokes behind Chilean clubhouse leader Mito Pereira, who fired his own six-under 65 in the second round.
Mexican Carlos Ortiz was the leader on course, at nine under through seven holes, when the horn blew signalling the weather warning amid more lightning strikes in the tropical Tokyo conditions.
Ortiz was one ahead of Pereira and Swede Alex Noren, who’d completed 16 holes of his second round, with Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, who also had two holes to play.
Austria’s first-round leader Sepp Straka (through nine holes), Ireland’s former world No.1 Rory McIlroy (13 holes), American Xander Schauffele (six holes) and Slovakian Rory Sabbatini, who carded a 69, were all at six under with Smith.
Fellow Australian Marc Leishman was back in a tie for 47th in the 60-man field at even par, and one over for his second round, after five holes.
AAP
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