Langer leads on rainy Champions Tour

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ENDICOTT, N.Y., Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Bernhard Langer was at 7-under-par Friday when rain caused a suspension of first-round play at the Champions Tour's Dick's Sporting Goods Open in New York.

Nearly 2 inches of rain pelted the course Thursday night and additional poor weather hit Friday. Tournament officials suspended play for the day at about 3:30 p.m.

"There's just too much standing water in some of the fairways for us to play under the Rules of Golf," said Gene Smith, the Champions Tour tournament director.

"After the rain we had on Tuesday night, the rain that we had this afternoon made the course unplayable and it's not going to get any better the rest of the day today."

He said the first round would resume at 7:30 a.m. EDT and the second round of the 54-hole tournament should start about 9:10 a.m.

Willie Wood shot a 5-under-par 67 and owns the clubhouse lead, but he was one of only 12 players to complete their rounds Friday.

Langer, who had seven birdies, was through 15 holes and two strokes up on Woods. John Huston, who had also played 15 holes Friday, and Chien Soon Lu, who had played only nine, were also at 5-under.

Jeff Sluman, despite two bogeys, was at 4-under after 14 holes and tied with Mark Wiebe, who has seven holes left in his first round.