GOLF ROUNDUP : Hammond Leads After Another Suspended Day

Donnie Hammond finished his rain-delayed first round and then shot a seven-under-par 65 Friday to take the clubhouse lead in the weather-plagued $1.3-million Houston Open.

Seventy-eight players remained on the course Friday trying to complete the second round when tournament officials suspended play for the second time in as many days because of the threat of lightning in the area.

Heavy rain forced postponement of Thursday’s first round and Friday’s start was delayed by fog that enveloped The Woodlands Country Club course.

Hammond played the final four holes of his first round and finished with a 67 and then returned to the first tee and attacked the soggy TPC course at The Woodlands again.

He birdied four of the first six holes, including a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 7 that careened off a ball marker and into the hole.

“When things like that happen, you’ve got to start thinking about winning,” Hammond said.

Hammond, whose best finish this year was a tie for second at the Los Angeles Open, had a 132 for 36 holes and a two-shot lead over Loren Roberts and Payne Stewart.

Roberts shot a second-round 67 and Stewart had a 68.

Blaine McCallister, whose 64 gave him the early first-day lead, got in seven holes of his second round before play was suspended. He had two more birdies to go 10 under for the tournament.

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Kristi Albers, winless in eight years on tour, shot a three-under-par 69 to maintain her lead halfway through the richest LPGA tournament.

Albers is at nine-under 135 after 36 holes of the $1.2-million Sprint Classic at Tallahassee, Fla. Marta Figueras-Dotti was one shot back after a 65 Friday. Hall of Famer JoAnne Carner also had a 65 and was another shot back at 137.

Carner, 54, is seeking to extend her record as the oldest player to win on the LPGA circuit. She became the oldest player to win on the tour with her last victory--eight years ago.

“That’s my only goal,” Carner said. “It shows longevity.”