Rasmus Hojgaard battles harsh winds to maintain lead at Danish Golf Championship

The overnight leader went into day two with a two-stroke advantage at the summit before back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth increased his lead to three early in the second round.

But things unravelled for the home favourite around the turn as, with heavy rain and strong winds battering the course, he made three bogeys in four holes to sit alongside four others on five under par when play was suspended at 16.57 local time.

Hojgaard will have work to do to avoid slipping further down the leaderboard when play resumes on Saturday morning, as he faces a 20-foot par putt on the 12th green upon his return to the course.

Fellow Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Norway's Kristoffer Reitan and Frenchman Adrien Saddier were safely in the clubhouse on five under, with France's Frederic LaCroix the other co-leader after 10 holes of his second round.

Morning starter Neergaard-Petersen praised his home crowds for braving the weather.

He said: "It's been fun. Great crowds, even when the weather hasn't been that good — typical Danish summer.

"But it's been awesome. Playing some solid golf. Thought today I started making some putts and I was able to make a lot more birdies and put together a good round.

"It's such a test mentally. You've got to stay locked in pretty much for the whole round. There's not really any holes where you can breathe and relax a bit.

"On pretty much any hole out here with these conditions, there's a big number out there. You've got to stay locked in and stay true to the game plan and accept there will be some shots that may catch a gust and end up in a spot where you don't want to be, you've just got to deal with it."

Englishmen David Horsey, Brandon Robinson-Thompson and Joe Dean were in a seven-strong group a shot further back following the completion of their second rounds, with countryman Andrew Wilson also at four under with eight holes still to complete.