Golf: Rain delay no worry as Crane stays top

American golfer Ben Crane carded his second bogey-free round to stay top of the leaderboard at the rain-hit Milwaukee Open yesterday before second-round play was called off due to darkness.

Crane, who opened with a spectacular eight-under 62, followed up with an error-free five-under 65 for a two-day total of 13-under 127 and a two-shot lead over Scott Verplank.

Verplank had a mixed round on the Brown Deer Park Golf Club, combining eight birdies with three bogeys to also finish with a five-under 65 to finish the day on 11-under 129.

After rain delayed play four holes into Verplank's opening round, he played 32 holes on Friday and felt every step of it by the time he finished.

"Everyone gets a little beat up at the British Open because the ground is so hard; it's hard walking," said Verplank. "It's hard on your whole body. After trying to get back fresh again (after the British Open) and going through a day like today, I'm glad I'm done (with the round)."

Verplank is chasing Presidents Cup points in hopes of improving his 11th-place standing. The top 10 finishers on that list earn automatic spots on the US team in September. Putting himself in position for this, a first PGA tour victory since the 2001 Bell Canadian Open, is a bonus.

Two-time champion Jeff Sluman was also on 11 under with one hole remaining when play was suspended.

Tommy Armour III (65) and Chris Smith (67) are safely in the clubhouse at nine-under 131.

Brad Faxon is also at nine under through 15 holes, the trio one stroke clear of 2003 champion Kenny Perry, who battled to a second round one-under 69.

After rain delayed opening-round action for over five hours, officials were unable to complete second-round play, leaving 55 golfers still on the course with holes to play.

The second round is scheduled to be finished today, with the third round getting under way after the cut is established.

- REUTERS