Maggert has the lead in weather-plagued event

PALM HARBOR, Fla. -- The wind was blowing hard enough to sweep sand out of the bunkers and knock down scores Friday at the PODS Championship. Jeff Maggert used it to his advantage.

Starting his second round with the wind at his back, Maggert birdied three of his opening four holes and hung on long enough to be leading by three shots at the turn when play was suspended for the rest of the day because of storms.

Maggert was at eight under par, three shots ahead of Kenny Perry and D.J. Trahan. For the second day in a row, none of the late starters came close to finishing the round.

About 15 minutes after the siren sounded to stop play, the sky opened and dumped even more rain on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook. That might not be a bad thing, for softer greens at least gave players a fighting chance.

“At least it’s not cold yet,” said Mark Calcavecchia, the defending champion who shot a one-under 70 and was tied for the clubhouse lead at three-under 139 with Lee Janzen (74), Billy Mayfair (71), Stuart Appleby (73) and Paul Casey (72).

Only three players among the early starters managed to break 70, with Tim Petrovic and Kevin Sutherland leading the way at 68.

Ernie Els, coming off a victory last week in the Honda Classic, birdied his last two holes to salvage a 73, leaving him at four-over 146 and likely to miss the cut.

Six players failed to break 80, including David Toms (81), which might end up costing him a spot in the World Golf Championships in two weeks at Doral. John Daly also shot 80 for the first time this year.