Murphy closes gap on Johansson at rainy Russian Open

NAKHABINO, Russia, Aug 4 (Reuters) Ireland's Gary Murphy made a late charge to close on overnight leader Per-Ulrik Johansson when he returned to the course early today to complete his second round at the weather-affected Russian Open.

Murphy shot a four-under 68 to move within four strokes of the 40-year-old Swede, who fired a sensational 62 yesterday to reach the halfway mark on 13-under par 131 before play at the Moscow Country Club was suspended following a lengthy rain delay.

After recording an eagle on the par-five 17th, Brazil's Alexandre Rocha bogeyed the last to drop five strokes off the lead and into a share of third place with Sweden's Christian Nilsson, who led after the opening round.

Following a four-hour rain delay, tournament organisers were forced to suspend play yesterday afternoon when a downpour drenched the course in suburban Nakhabino, waterlogging the greens and fairways for a second straight day.

Play was also stopped for more than three hours on Thursday.

The 65 players who made the cut will start the third round later today.

Amateur Dmitry Vinogradov failed in his bid to become the first Russian to survive the cut on a European Tour event when he bogeyed the last to miss the qualifying mark of one-over par by a stroke.

American Brian Watts, who was runner-up to Mark O'Meara at the 1998 British Open, 2001 European PGA champion Andrew Oldcorn of Scotland and Welshman Mark Pilkington, last year's Challenge Tour number one, were some of the big names who also missed out.

REUTERS BJR VV1619