American world No. 5 Xander Schauffele jumped to the top of a congested leaderboard at the midway point of the Tokyo Olympic men's golf tournament Friday, while Japan's Hideki Matsuyama closed to within three shots of the lead.
Schauffele shot the day's best score of 63 to move up 11 spots with a two-round total of 11-under after another weather-interrupted and incomplete round at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan.
This time, there was a two-and-a-half-hour delay due to the threat of lightning in the area.
Mexican Carlos Ortiz's round of 67 was enough to move him into sole second place, one shot back of Schauffele, and overnight leader Sepp Straka of Austria was among a group of four golfers tied for third at 8-under, including Matsuyama.
Matsuyama entered the day six shots behind the leader after the opening round, which was suspended because of a lightning storm.
In Friday's second round, he carded three birdies on his interrupted front nine to get to 5-under then he added three more on the back nine before being forced off the course after completing the 16th hole.
His bogey-free day puts him in a strong position to contend for a first Olympic medal which he can add to his Masters green jacket won in April.
The 29-year-old Japanese is making his first Summer Games appearance after he opted out of the Rio Games due to fears over the Zika virus.
Rikuya Hoshino, the other Japanese contesting the men's tournament, completed his round in 68 shots and sits at 3-under for the tournament in a group tied for provisional 25th.
Matsuyama and 15 other players were unable to complete their rounds, including Briton Paul Casey who is at 7-under.
The 60-man field does not include Jon Rahm of Spain or Bryson DeChambeau of the United States, the No. 1 and No. 6 male golfers in the world, respectively, or 2016 Rio Olympics champion Justin Rose of Britain.
Unlike regular pro tournaments, there will be no cut, so all 60 players will play the full four rounds.
