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nexpected weather rumbled above Sentosa Island, Singapore, with thunder and drizzle eventually putting a stop to the opening round of play at the SMBC Singapore Open late on Thursday.

Keith Horne of South Africa and Berry Henson of the US were atop the leaderboard with five-under-par 66 when the organizers called for a halt.

Horne had completed his round while Henson had the last two of 18 holes to go.

The 44-year-old South African compensated his bogeys with a string of birdies and shrugged off the effect of heat early in the day to end the first round of play strongly at Serapong Golf Course.

He turned in impressively with birdies on the opening two holes. After a bogey on the 13th hole, he carded another two birdies. He then faltered early in the back nine before closing out with three birdies to put himself on an early charge in his chase to win a second title in five months after taking out the Sun City Challenge in August last year.

The top draw in the US$1 million tournament and world number one Jordan Spieth of the US trailed one stroke back with four-under-par 67, tied with Byeonghun An of South Korea, Namchok Tantipokhakul of Thailand and Shintaro Kobayashi of Japan.

Tantipokhakul and Kobayashi were among 57 players forced to carry over their games to Friday. Spieth and An, who teed off in the morning, made birdies on exactly the same four holes '€” the fourth, seventh, 10th and 18th.

'€œI got off to a great start with a birdie on the first. Then I had two great shots in the second and just misread the putt,'€ Spieth said. '€œAfter my fourth hole, I just didn'€™t have many looks. I didn'€™t get the ball inside 15 feet.'€

Spieth and An were equal with two holes leading to the clubhouse. Spieth had the chance to pull one stroke ahead on the closing green, but his putting was too weak for a birdie.

'€œTypically I don'€™t use a practice stroke when putting, only that I'€™m trying to coast it near the hole. I had to do that at [holes] eight and nine of the green. When that'€™s happening and I'€™m looking up and taking those practice strokes, I know I'€™m not hitting it close enough,'€ he said.

Spieth downplayed the effect of the searing heat on his game.

'€œIt'€™s fine. It'€™s definitely hot, definitely humid. No doubt about it. But it'€™s not overbearing. You just got to drink enough water,'€ he said.

An was happy that he ended the opening day tied with Spieth.

'€œObviously, it'€™s always good to have the number one player in the world playing the same event. He'€™s a good player and brings more crowds. I get to watch him play. So you know, I think it'€™s really a good thing for everyone,'€ he said.

An shied away from suggestions he might win the event, saying he would try to maintain his performance for the rest of the tournament.

'€œI believe there are a lot of good players who can win this event. So I just got to play my golf and play well. We'€™ll see for the next three days,'€ he said. '€œAs long as I play like this I think I can have a good chance at it.'€

Conditions turned dark late in the afternoon, prompting organizers to delay before abandoning the day altogether. The competition resumes on Friday at 7:30 a.m. with the second round of play expected to start at 8 a.m.