News from tours around the world

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Ireland's Des Smyth picked up where he left off in the US Senior PGA Championship by challenging for honours in this year's event at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. Smyth, who led after three rounds last year before finishing joint fifth, reached two under after 17 holes before lightning stopped play on the opening day of the first Major of the season in the senior game.

Play was to start again early on yesterday morning but heavy overnight rain has caused further delays.

Americans Hale Irwin, a three-time winner of the Championship, and Tom Watson, who has won the title once, lead the event after firing four under par 67s.US Champions Tour Money List leader Gil Morgan is a stroke behind with three holes left to play.

Smyth led the way for members of the European Seniors Tour - a total of 17 are playing - by making five birdies and three bogeys. He started his round on the back nine by opening his account with a birdie on the 10th. He toured the nine in two under and later reached three under with birdies on the fifth and sixth before dropping a shot on his final hole of the day, the eighth.

Mark McNulty finished his first round on one under par 70 while Eamonn Darcy posted a two over 73.

PGA Tour: Tim Heron fired a six under par 64 to set the clubhouse target of 136 in the Fedex St Jude's Classic, Memphis.

However, out on the course, David Toms was blazing a trail at seven under for the day and six under par for the tournament after a first round 72. Toms raced to the turn in 31 with an eagle and three birdies.

LPGA EUROPEAN TOUR: Nuria Clau from Spain fired a second consecutive four under par 68 to take the lead after the second round of the Union Fenosa Open de España Femenino Xacobeo 2004 at Club de Golf de La Coruña.

The 22-year-old LET rookie from Barcelona carded four birdies, an eagle and two bogies to lead on eight under par, one shot clear of playing partner Stephanie Arricau from France, who set the course record with a flawless six under par 66, which included four birdies and an eagle. First round co-leaders Anja Monke from Germany, who celebrated her 27th birthday yesterday, and Becky Brewerton from Wales carded 71s and share third place on five under par.

NATIONWIDE TOUR: Richie Coughlan is five shots off the pace in the Carolina Classic after a second round 68 gave him a halfway total of 138. Brendan Jones, with a six-under-par 65 to go with his first round 68, leads on 133 - two ahead of Jeremy Wilkinson.

LPGATOUR: Annika Sorenstam fired a five under par 67 in the second round of the Corning Classic to take the lead in the clubhouse at 12-under-par.

Liselotte Neumann and Carin Koch are tied for second place on eight under par with Mhairi McKay a shot back on seven under par.