Third round of China Open cancelled due to thunder and lightning

The third round of the Volvo China Open was cancelled due to thunder and lightning.

Sweden's Sebastian Soderberg held a three-shot advantage over Englishman Paul Waring at 16 under par after the second round, but the leader did not hit a single shot on Saturday at Hidden Grace Golf Club.

Only two groups got under way before play was initially suspended at 8.18am local time (1.18am Irish time) due to the dangerous situation caused by lightning in the Shenzhen area.

The weather did not improve and it was announced at 2.11pm that the third round had been cancelled.

The event will now be a 54-hole tournament, with Sunday’s final round being played in a two-tee, three-ball format starting at 8.00am.

Soderberg, Waring and Italian Guido Migliozzi will head out in the final group at 9.50am.

Tom McKibbin is 11 shots off the lead after carding a 69 in Friday's second round.