Price is right in Morocco

Agadir - Wales' Phillip Price took a one-shot lead in the weather-battered second round of the Trophee Hassan on Friday as strong winds caused a five-and-a-half hour delay.

More than half the field will have to complete their second round on Saturday, but that won't worry Price who carded five birdies in eight holes to take over at the top of the leaderboard.

Price, who famously beat Phil Mickelson as Europe won the Ryder Cup in 2002, moved to 10 under par for the two rounds at the Golf du Palais Royal.

He parred his first five holes before a hat-trick of birdies from the 15th while further gains followed at the second and fourth.

"I was delighted with that today and I was very surprised by how calm it became throughout the day after this morning," said Price, who won the last of his three European Tour titles nine years ago.

"I had a 05:25 alarm call this morning and then a five-and-a-half-hour delay. Thankfully I managed to have a little 20-minute power nap in the locker room during the delay and that really helped," added the 45-year-old.

"But it was frustrating to go to the tee twice and not be allowed to tee off because it is difficult to get yourself in the right mood and then be called off.

"By the time we got to the tee for the third time I wasn't sure if we were going to be allowed to go, but thankfully it died down and, as I said, I managed to play very well."

Spain's Jose Manuel Lara was second after a 65 left him on nine under for the tournament, one ahead of Sweden's Joel Sjoholm.

The Swede is eight under and shares third place with South Africa's James Kingston who still has one hole to finish.

Overnight leader Damien McGrane was seven under after five holes before play was halted.

Leading and selected second round scores in the European Tour Trophee Hassan at the Golf du Palais Royal on Friday (GBR/IRL unless stated, par 72):

Note: Second round resumes on Saturday after five-and-a-half delay on Friday because of strong winds.

134 - Phillip Price 68-66

135 - Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 70-65

136 - Joel Sjoholm (SWE) 70-66

137 - Jorge Campillo (ESP) 68-69

138 - Garth Mulroy (RSA) 73-65, Matthew Baldwin 70-68

139 - Daniel Denison 73-66, Gary Orr 72-67, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 72-67, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 69-70, Keith Horne (RSA) 69-70

140 - Ignacio Garrido (ESP) 69-71

141 - Craig Lee 73-68, Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR) 72-69, Branden Grace (RSA) 74-67, Richard McEvoy 69-72, Kim Do-hoon (KOR) 76-65, Michael Hoey 74-67

142 - David Drysdale 71-71, Julien Quesne (FRA) 72-70, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 74-68, Scott Jamieson 72-70

143 - Jbe Kruger (RSA) 75-68, Markus Brier (AUT) 77-66

Selected:

145 - Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 74-71, Robert Rock 77-68

147 - Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 74-73

148 - Richard Sterne (RSA) 75-73