Lara and Lundberg share lead as rain interrupts second day at Czech Open

Jose Manuel Lara shot a 4-under 68 to move into a share of first place at the European Tour’s Czech Open on Friday after rain cut short the second round. Mikael Lundberg of Sweden, whose round was halted on No. 15, is also 7 under.

Play was suspended because of a thunderstorm with nine groups of players needing to complete their second rounds Saturday.

The Spaniard had five birdies and a bogey at Prosper Golf Resort in the Czech town of Celadna for a 7-under 137. Lara, 34, picked up five birdies on the front nine with a bogey at the 15th the only blemish on a round that saw him move firmly into contention at the midway point.

Lundberg bogeyed the sixth but still kept up with Lara by birdieing the 13th, 15th, 17th and the third after starting on the back nine.

"I played really well on my back nine,” said Lara. “I struggled a little bit early on because of the wind, but then made five birdies on my back nine, which added up to a good round. So I'm very happy.

"It (the wind) was coming from all directions, but mainly from left to right,” he explained. “It also made it difficult to read the putts, because you weren't sure how much the wind was going to affect the ball. So it was very tricky, and I was happy when it died down later in the round."

Englishmen Oliver Fisher and Gary Boyd are tied for third alongside Irishman Damien McGrane while overnight leader Peter Lawrie stuttered to a second-round 75 to slip down to tied 13th and McGrane felt he was lucky to go out in the afternoon session.

"We got the best of the weather, there's no doubt about that," he said. "A round of 71 was a reasonable performance, although I probably played a bit better than that. It was funny day out there, and a lot can go wrong on a day like today.

"I made a lot of birdie chances coming in, but just couldn't hole the putts,” he added. “But I hit good putts, so I'm reasonably happy with my performance."