Golf-Play abandoned in Scottish Open second round

INVERNESS, Scotland, July 9 (Reuters) - Rainstorms finally put paid to any chance of play in the Scottish Open on Saturday as officials lost a desperate

 attempt to complete the weather-disrupted second round.

After it was decided to reduce the tournament to three rounds, play was continually postponed during the day because of sometimes torrential rain, until it was abandoned at 1840 GMT.
Players were in place ready to play at 1830 GMT but were then brought in because the Castle Stuart course was still unplayable at certain holes.
World’s number one and two Luke Donald and Lee Westwood are among the 78 yet to finish their second rounds, both lying seven-under-par, four shots behind the early leaders, Britons Graeme McDowell, Scott Jamieson and Peter Whiteford.
Colin Montgomerie, trying to earn a last-ditch British Open spot, is five shots off the lead, also still to finish his second round.
They will have to prepare for an 0600 GMT start on Sunday morning.
Montgomerie, who needs to be the best of the top five finishers not already exempt for Royal St George’s after the planned third round on Sunday, felt the delays had reduced his chances of qualifying for the major.
“I really needed all 72 holes to have my best chance of qualifying,” Montgomerie told reporters before leaving the course.
His second round had come to a halt on the 10th hole on Friday evening, just after he had hit into a hazard. “I’ve been in that hazard for 26 hours now,” Montgomerie said. “But we’ll try again tomorrow morning. I need to be eight-under minimum by the end of my second round, to have any chance.”
The top trio, who played their second rounds on Friday morning, lead the field by a stroke on 11-under -par.
More bad weather is forecast for the Castle Stuart course on Sunday. The incessant rain has caused landslips at two holes through erosion.