GOLF: Only  two thunderstorms were able to halt British Open champion Ernie Els' assault on a fourth straight victory in the Caltex Masters in Singapore yesterday. The South African fired four birdies in five holes at Laguna National to close within two shots of the lead before play was abandoned.

European Tour rookie Benn Barham from Kent took advantage of being in the first group out on the course to card a superb opening 65 for a one-shot lead over former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst, England's Simon Khan and Jeev Milkha Singh.

The Irish pair in Singapore were also caught out by the suspension. Gary Murphy was two under par for 15 holes, while Peter Lawrie, who had reached three-under after nine, had slipped back to level par for his 15 holes.

Els, who had also completed 15 holes in five under par to finish alongside playing partner and defending champion Arjun Atwal, was one of 78 players unable to finish the first round.

The South African world number two had just made his third birdie in a row on the 13th when the players were called off for the first time, and after just half an hour delay returned to par the 14th and hit a superb two-iron approach from 250 yards on the par five 15th to set up another birdie.

The 33-year-old's drive then split the 16th fairway seconds before the siren went for the second, and final time, to signal the end of play for the day.

Meanwhile, Barham is on course to pay out a healthy dividend for the members of his golf club paying his expenses after his opening 65, just one shot outside the course record.

The 26-year-old from Ashford only had time to walk the course, which features water on 11 of the 18 holes, after arriving in Singapore late on Tuesday.

A visit to one of the water hazards on the 13th, his fourth hole, cost him his only dropped shots of the day, but nine birdies, six of them in an inward half of 30, saw him end the day at the top of the leaderboard.

"The members from Chart Hills have helped me for the last three years," said Barham, who gained his card for this season by finishing 13th on the Challenge Tour.

"They've stuck by me and it's worked really well. Hopefully they will cover my expenses for this year. There are around 20-30 people involved and one share costs £125, so they can buy just one or as many as they like.

"I paid back just under half of what they gave me last year as the expenses on the Challenge Tour are quite high but the prize money is not so big."