Perry beats storms to lead

Kenny Perry could not equal his stunning first round 61 at TPC River Highlands, but retained the lead as storms suspended play.

Play was halted at 4.35pm local time as thunder and lightning approached the Cromwell course and it was finally called off for the day at 6.02pm leaving 72 players to complete their rounds tomorrow morning.

There were no such worries for Perry, 48, who had held a two-shot first-round lead over fellow Americans Paul Goydos and Charles Warren following a nine-under-par opening round in Cromwell that equalled the course record on the rain-softened 6,841-yard layout.

As more rain descended on the US north east, early starter Perry got off to another quick opening with birdies at the first and third before a bogey slowed the Ryder Cup star.

Another birdie came at the 17th, his eighth of the day, but Perry parred the remaining 10 holes for a 68.

Perry felt he was hitting the ball off the tee as well as ever but his putting had let him down today.

"I'm in good shape, happy with the round," Perry said.

"I hit 16 greens and didn't miss a fairway, so had 33 putts today versus 25 yesterday, so that's eight strokes. That was the difference between my two rounds.

"I had control of the ball today, hit it nice, and just couldn't get the speed today. They were a lot slower to me, the greens were, and I just couldn't get enough pace on the ball to make some putts.

"That's okay. I'm used to it. I don't normally putt well anyway."

Perry will take a two-shot lead over fellow American Ryan Moore into the third round.

Moore continued from his tie for 10th at last Monday's US Open with an opening 66 and added a 65 today to get to nine under for the tournament at the halfway stage.

Aaron Watkins was another mover among the morning wave, his 67 getting him to eight under alongside Colt Knost, who shot a 66.

The afternoon starters had more difficult conditions and the delay for dangerous thunderstorms to deal with but Anthony Kim was the pick of the second wave, four under for his round, eight under for the tournament, after 13 holes.

Goydos had improved one stroke after 13 holes to also move to eight under, while David Toms was three under for the day after 13 at eight under. Spencer Levin made it a six-way tie for third place, two under for his round after nine.

Chez Reavie shot a 67 to reach the clubhouse at seven under alongside 50-year-old Michael Allen, who posted a 65 and Kyle Stanley, making his professional debut, adding a 67 to an opening 66.

Out on the course at seven under were Bryce Molder, Ben Curtis and John Merrick after 17, 13 and 12 holes respectively.

Australia's Mathew Goggin and Jarrod Lyle led the overseas contingent with a one-under 69 and a 67 respectively getting them to six under at halfway, but compatriot Greg Chalmers started from there after an opening 64 and fell away one over after 15 when the hooter sounded to suspend play.

US Open champion Lucas Glover fell off the pace with a 71 to reach the clubhouse at four under while world number four Sergio Garcia of Spain got to six under for the week after nine holes before three bogeys in the first four holes of his back nine sent him back to three under after 13 holes.

England's Justin Rose faced an anxious wait after a 70 left him one stroke out of the projected cut at three under, potentially the lowest on the PGA Tour this year.

Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson started where Rose finished at two under but was one under for the day after 16 with Londoner Brian Davis going off from level par and falling to one over after 16.

Greg Owen, the third Englishman in the field, was also facing an early exit after a seven-over 77 took him to four over.