Donald leads, lightning halts play in Sun City

By GERALD IMRAY (AP Sports Writer)December 5, 2013 10:46 AMAP - Sports

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FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2013, file photo, Henrik Stenson from Sweden celebrates after winning the DP World Golf Championship, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Stenson is now in South Africa to play in the Nedbank Golf Challenge starting Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) -- Lightning halted the first round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge and Luke Donald's rapid start at the 30-man invitational on Thursday.

Donald opened with a birdie and an eagle on his first two holes and was 5 under after 11 when a second interruption for lightning caused players to come off the course for good.

The former top-ranked Englishman is two ahead of Jamie Donaldson and Thomas Bjorn. Donaldson played 12 holes, while Bjorn was 3 under with three birdies in six holes.

Playing for the first time since ending last season with the FedEx Cup and European money list titles, Henrik Stenson was 1 under after seven, with six straight pars after a birdie on No. 1.