Murota keeps lead at Senior PGA

LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 27 (UPI) -- Kiyoshi Murota shot a 5-under 67 Friday and opened a four-shot lead at the midway point of the Senior PGA Championship.

Murota, who has spent his career on Japan's regular and senior tours, backed up his first-round lead by equaling the lowest score shot Friday at the Valhalla Golf Club course to turn in a 36-hole total of 133.

Nick Price and 65-year-old Hale Irwin, a four-time winner of this event, were tied for second at 137. Irwin dominated the Champions Tour during his early 50s and produced 21 of his 45 victories during the final three years of the 20th Century.

A three-time winner of the U.S. Open, Irwin last won on the Champions Tour in 2007.

Olin Browne and Loren Roberts were tied for fourth at 138.

Heavy rains twice delayed play Thursday and half the field could not complete the first round until Friday. Play in the second round was suspended by darkness Friday with 30 players still on the course, but none of them had a chance to finish among the leaders.

Tom Watson was in a tie for seventh at 140 along with Mark O'Meara. Tom Lehman, the leading money winner this season on the Champions Tour and the winner of the circuit's first major of the year at The Tradition, was at 143 in a tie for 22nd place.