Flesch leads the rain-delayed Memorial

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DUBLIN, Ohio, June 1 (UPI) -- Steve Flesch was 6-under through 17 holes Thursday in the first round of the Memorial Golf Tournament at Dublin, Ohio, where play was stopped by bad weather.

The weather forced a number of players to get a late start.

The clubhouse leader was Sean O'Hair at 5-under 67.

"It's been a while since I had a good start to an event, so it's nice to just feel positive about what happened today instead of fighting to make the cut," O'Hair said. "Instead of putting a lot of pressure on myself, I am just trying to get back to playing my game and let the results come."

Masters champion and world No. 2 Phil Mickelson -- who returned to action this week -- was 3-under 69, tied with a group that included Sergio Garcia, Stuart Appleby and Fred Couples, the 1998 winner and two-time Memorial runner-up.