US racing driver Jay Don Blake powered into a share of the second-round lead at the $1.8 million BellSouth Atlanta Classic golf tournament yesterday with half the field forced to suspend play in midround.
Blake, whose lone PGA Tour victory came in 1991, birdied his final two holes for a four-under-par 68 on the waterlogged Sugarloaf TPC course, where players were allowed preferred lies.
He was joined at nine-under 135 by Australian Craig Parry, who had two eagles and almost a holein-one on his way to a 66.
Blake and Parry were one stroke ahead of American John Huston (68), although only half the field completed the round yesterday due to earlier bad weather.
Among those unable to finish, Tiger Woods (through nine holes), Trevor Dodds (nine holes), Mark Calcavecchia (nine holes), Spike McRoy (four holes) and Glen Hnatiuk (four holes) were bestplaced at six under.
Ireland's Richard Coughlan and Keith Nolan both seemed destined to miss the halfway cut. After an opening 74 Coughlan then shot a 71. Nolan, a hole behind him, had rounds of 76 and 73.
