Fraser leads fog-delayed Ballantine's event

Golf: Marcus Fraser carded a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 to post a one-shot clubhouse lead at the end of a weather-disrupted…

Golf:Marcus Fraser carded a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 to post a one-shot clubhouse lead at the end of a weather-disrupted first day of the Ballantine's Championship at Pinx Golf Club in Jeju Island, Korea.

The 31-year-old Australian failed to post a sub-70 round at last week's Volvo China Open but defied over six hours of delays to top the leaderboard ahead of England's Mark Foster.

Ted Oh led the local challenge at and was a further shot off the pace alongside Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Australia's Rick Kulacz.

Donaldson and Kulacz, though, are among the third of the field who will have to return tomorrow to complete their opening rounds due to heavy fog over Jeju island, which is situated off the Korean peninsula.

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There were 66 players unable to even tee-off and they face the prospect of 36 holes tomorrow, although more fog is forecast over the next two days.

"I felt like I played really well last week in China, but I didn't putt very well," said Fraser, the 2003 Russian Open champion.

"It felt like it was very close and I felt like I practised really well at the start of the week, so I was hoping for a good round to get going."

Ernie Els and Anohony Kim are well-placed in a large froup on four under, while Gareth Maybin is the leading Irishman on three under through 12 holes.

Shane Lowry was level par with two holes to play and Paul McGinley parred the opening hole before play was suspended. Former champion Graeme McDowell was well down the field after a two over 74.

Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane never got their rounds started and face a busy day tomorrow.

Fraser trailed playing partner Foster by one shot at the turn with the highlight for the Australian a 35-foot birdie putt which kick-started a hat-trick of birdies around the turn - a treble which was also matched by the Englishman.

Both added two birdies on the back nine, but Fraser edged ahead with Foster blotting his scorecard with two bogeys en route to a six under 66.

A weary Els took a week off after a top-20 finish at the Masters after an energy-sapping but rewarding run which featured wins at the WGC-CA Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational.

"I shot a 68 so happy to get done, it was a long day," said the 40-year-old South African.

"We started this morning at seven and we finished at six, so it was a long day.

"It could have been a little better, but not a bad start, so I am looking forward to the rest of the week."

Kim, who finished sixth on Jeju island two years ago, followed up a third US PGA Tour title at the Shell Houston Open with a third-placed finish at Augusta and matched Fisher's flawless first round.

"I stayed patient and I'm happy with how I played, I just didn't score very well," said the 24-year-old American Ryder Cup winner.

"The greens were very slow. My last tournament was the Masters, so the greens were very fast and now it's very slow so it's a little bit of an adjustment, but hopefully I can do better."