It wasn’t quite the round that Thriston Lawrence had hoped for on Friday as he found himself stranded with a four-footer for bogey on the 18th when the siren sounded to halt play in the US Open.

That bogey – which he made when play resumed early on Saturday morning – left Lawrence in a share of sixth place at one-over-par as Oakmont Country Club delivered its expected mauling of the field. At the halfway mark, only three players are under par for the championship, and two more are on level-par.

Sam Burns matched the third-best US Open round ever fired at Oakmont, shooting a five-under-par 65 to seize a one-stroke lead as big names struggled.

After going into the Friday’s action in second place following an opening round of 67, Lawrence made six bogeys and a double to shoot four-over par on Friday. However, in typical Lawrence fashion, he also made a handful of birdies and some clutch par-saves out of the thick rough to leave him for sixth place.

“I played nicely,” said Lawrence. “I was six-under at one stage and now I’m one-over. Obviously disappointed in that sense. But on this golf course… I mean, yesterday was my day. Today looked like it was supposed to be my day, but at least we… this golf course can punish you even on good shots.

“I think it was only on 14 or my 13th hole today where I really felt like I’m in trouble. The four bogeys I made were so soft, it was so soft, and I three-putted there, and just the indecisive second shot on 18, wrong club that made me poor on the second shot. But overall I played nicely, but frustrating day because it felt like we were out there for seven hours, and yeah, I’m still happy to be in it by a couple of shots.”

Christiaan Bezuidenhout also kept himself in the championship, carding a one-over 71 to move to three-over and a share of 12th. That’s just six strokes off the lead.

Erik van Rooyen and Jacques Kruyswijk missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 77 respectively.

For Lawrence, the weekend holds much promise if he can avoid some of the perils which befell him in the second round. “I’m playing nicely, so I just need to look at it that I made four birdies out there today, got myself a lot of chances,” he said. “I’m just going to keep on being aggressive and commit. I think that’s the main thing. Stay patient.”