Ian Poulter leads storm-affected Turkish Airlines Open

Ian Poulter opened a three-shot lead at the Turkish Airlines Open before a thunderstorm curtailed round two.

The Englishman, who began on eight under, one shot behind overnight leader Miguel Angel Jimenez, had six birdies and a bogey in his 14 completed holes.

Spaniard Jimenez has mixed three bogeys and one birdie to drop back to eight under after 14 holes in Antalya.

Zimbabwe's Brendan De Jonge carded four birdies and one bogey to go second on 10 under, having played 13 holes.

Tee times for the second round had been brought forward by 90 minutes in an attempt to complete play before the forecast thunderstorm hit but it arrived early and play was suspended shortly after noon local time.

Poulter, who birdied five of the first 11 holes, later tweeted: "Now that was a close call. On 14th green when lightning struck very close by."

After three-putting the 12th to drop a shot, the world number 40, aided by a strengthening wind, reached the par-five 13th green in two shots to set up a simple birdie.

Jimenez, at 50 the oldest winner on the European Tour, dropped shots on the 12th and 13th to fall five off the pace.

Defending champion Victor Dubuisson was three under for his round, and two over for the tournament, despite playing with a persistent nose bleed.

The Frenchman had a blood-stained shirt and tissue stuffed up his right nostril as he walked off the course having played 13 holes.

England's Oliver Fisher, who began the round on five under, had nine bogeys in 16 holes and he will resume his round, along with everyone else, at 06:00 GMT.

The tournament is the third event of the European Tour's Race to Dubai Final Series, which culminates with the World Tour Championship in Dubai from 20 to 23 November.