Dunne lurking in soggy Joburg Open
Paul Dunne with fellow Audemars Piguet ambassadors 

Paul Dunne with fellow Audemars Piguet ambassadors 

Paul Dunne is just five shots behind clubhouse leader Darren Fichardt in the weather-delayed Joburg Open.

The Greystones talent completed a three-under-par, first round 69 on the East Course when play resumed after Thursday's rain delay at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington.

There was then a further delay early on Friday, but Dunne eventually got going and made four birdies and one bogey in a three-under-par par 68 on the West Course to lie tied 25th on six-under-par when play was suspended for the day due to darkness.

Fichardt leads in the clubhouse on 11-under-par after a pair of 66s, tied with Dean Burmester (15 holes on the East) and one stroke behind England's Paul Waring, who was 12-under-par and five-under for the day on the West Course when play was called off for the day.

Scores

Royal Dublin's Jeff Hopkins and Dungannon's Darren Clarke will miss the cut, which is projected to fall at four-under-par.

A Wednesday qualifier, Hopkins carded a level par 71 on the West Course in round one, but while he made four birdies on the East Course in round two, he also had four bogeys and a double bogey, carding a two-over 74 for a share of 170th on two-over.

Clarke added a 74 on the West to a 75 on the East to miss out on five-over-par.