PALM HARBOR, Fla., Sept. 20 (UPI) -- K.J. Choi followed his record-setting performance by shooting a 3-under-par 68 Friday, maintaining his two-stroke lead at the Tampa Bay Classic.
Choi got his round in before rain forced the suspension of the second round. Forty-three of the 151 players will return to Westin Innisbrook Resort early Saturday to complete the second round.
The first round was suspended due to the threat of lightning.
One of the golfers unable to finish the second round at the Copperhead Course was Ty Tryon, an 18-year-old competing in his first year as a full-time PGA Tour member. He was 5-under through 13 holes and 3-under for the tournament.
A Korean on the verge of qualifying for the exclusive Tour Championship, Choi had four birdies on a bogey-free back side to reach 11-under 131. He set a course record Thursday with a 63.
Choi won the Compaq Classic in May for his first career title and has four top-10 finishes. He is 31st on the money list, a spot away from a berth in the Tour Championship.
Rod Pampling finished with a bogey but carded a 68 in one of the day's first groups and was alone in second at 9-under 133. He is winless in 33 PGA Tour starts, placing in the top 10 just twice.
Pat Perez, the medalist at Q-School last year, was at 8-under through 16 holes when the rains came.
Glen Day is in the clubhouse at 7-under 135. Donnie Hammond was at 136, a stroke better than Billy Andrade and Hidemichi Tanaka.
