IN BRIEF : Gardner, Caldwell, Byrum Share Lead in Rain-Delayed PGA Tourney

Golfers Buddy Gardner and Rex Caldwell completed storm-delayed 65s today and moved into a share of the lead with Tom Byrum in the day-late completion of first-round play in the $800,000 Honda Classic.

Gardner and Caldwell were among the 72 players stranded on the course Thursday afternoon when thunderstorms caused an overnight suspension of play and disrupted the tournament schedule. Those players marked their positions at Eagle Trace and returned early today to finish first-round play.

A downpour this morning interrupted play for 35 minutes.

Gardner, not yet a winner in 12 seasons of PGA Tour activity, got his piece of the lead with birdies on four of the last five holes he played this morning. Caldwell’s seven-under-par effort was spiced by an eagle-three on the fifth hole, where he hit a 3-wood to within two feet of the flag. They were tied with Byrum, who scored nine birdies and completed his 65 Thursday before the storms.