Veteran Johansson charges to lead

NAKHABINO, Russia (Reuters) -- Sweden's Per-Ulrik Johansson shot a 10-under 62 to take a six-stroke lead before play was suspended at the rainswept Russian Open on Friday.

The 40-year-old, playing in only his third Tour event this year, birdied five of his last six holes in round two as, for the second day running, bad weather played havoc with the $2 million tournament at the Moscow Country Club.

"I think I only shot 62 once before in the Dutch Open in 1991 where I finished second to Bernhard Langer and tied Payne Stewart," said the Swede, a former Ryder Cup player who has five titles to his name but has struggled for form in recent years.

Ireland's Gary Murphy made a late charge to close on Johansson when he returned to the course early on Saturday to complete his second round.

Murphy shot a four-under 68 to move within four strokes of the 40-year-old Swede.

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.

The 65 players who made the cut started the third round later on Saturday.

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. E-mail to a friend

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