Danthai Boonma's marathon outing started before sunrise yesterday, spanned 29 holes and more than 12 hours but, at the end, the weary Thai had plenty of reason to feel pumped up.
He managed three birdies from 13 holes to complete his second round at the SMBC Singapore Open. He then added another six in his third round before lightning halted play while he was at the 16th.
The 21-year-old was at nine under for the US$1 million (S$1.3 million) tournament, tied for the lead alongside compatriot Chapchai Nirat, who was starting on his back nine when the siren blew over the Serapong Course.
Danthai, whose sole Asian Tour victory was coincidentally in Singapore at the 2015 World Classic Championship at Laguna National Golf and Country Club, said: "Today I putted very well except for the bogey on the sixth hole.
"I just tried to focus on my plan and on the process and just kept it fun, that's it."
"I am a little bit tired. I will get a good rest tonight in order to prepare for tomorrow," added the 2013 double SEA Games gold medallist.
He and Chapchai were two shots clear of seven golfers at seven under. This group included their compatriot Jazz Janewattananond as well as Masters champion Sergio Garcia, Ryo Ishikawa, Gavin Green, Casey O'Toole, Shaun Norris and Danny Masrin. All have yet to complete their rounds and will resume today at 7.40am.
Only six of the 68 golfers who survived the weekend cut had finished their rounds when play was suspended at 6.20pm yesterday.
It was the third straight day that Mother Nature has wreaked havoc at the Sentosa Golf Club and could drag the Asian Tour and Japan Tour co-sanctioned season-opener into a fifth day and the unwanted Monday finish.
But the players remained defiant. South African Norris said: "It's a little distracting with the weather disruptions but at least, for everybody, it's the same. We just have to accept it and move on."
Singaporeans Choo Tze Huang and Gregory Foo, an amateur, are used to such thunderstorms and have also made full use of their home-ground advantage.
Both are only five shots off the leaders, on four under with three and four third-round holes to complete respectively.
The 30-year-old Choo will drop a shot, though, as play was abandoned just as he was about to tap in for bogey on the 16th hole.
"I just didn't hit too many good tee shots today, but I think I'm still playing well, putting well," he said.
"It was a blessing in disguise maybe that the lightning came when it did, because it gave me a bit of a break and I can go back and regroup."
SINGAPORE OPEN
Day 4: StarHub Ch112/205 & 76.25MHz, noon
