Poulter takes lead at Singapore Open

SINGAPORE, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Ian Poulter overcame a first-hole bogey Thursday and finished at 5-under-par 66 for the first-round lead at the Singapore Open stop for the European PGA Tour.

Poulter finished just before storms hit the Serapong Course, causing a suspension of play for three hours. That delay meant most of the players with afternoon tee times finished no more than 13 holes before darkness set in. The first round is to be completed Friday morning.

Among those who did finish, Ernie Els and Yin-Shin Chan were each one stroke behind Poulter while Anders Hansen, Kodai Ichihara and Thomas Levet were tied for fourth at 3-under 68. Phil Mickelson was among eight players at 2-under.

Poulter opened his round on the back side and had birdies at Nos. 13 and 18 to make the turn at 2-under. But he gave back a stroke at the first hole. After two pars, however, he had birdies on four of five holes.

A putt from off the green at No. 8 completed a string of three consecutive birdies and put Poulter into the outright lead.