GRAND BLANC, Michigan, 3 August 2003 — Chris DiMarco crammed nine birdies into 12 holes to fire an eight-under-par 64 and take a two-shot lead when rain suspended play for the day in the second round of the $4 million Buick Open on Friday.
Play was interrupted for four hours and 42 minutes but the bad weather did not stop DiMarco posting a 13-under-par total of 131 in the clubhouse.
David Sutherland (67) and Australia’s Paul Gow (67) shared second place on 133, 11 under. Neal Lancaster (68), Andrew Magee (64), Garrett Willis (68) and Carl Paulson, who had three holes still to play, were all on nine-under. Defending champion and world number one Tiger Woods was five-under for the round through 15 holes, eight-under for the tournament.
DiMarco, a three times PGA Tour winner who tied for second place here two years ago, bogeyed the par-four fifth hole but then birdied nine of the next 12.
DiMarco has been brilliant on the greens this week, taking only 54 putts in 36 holes, 26 on Friday. The 34-year-old American is missing a victory from an otherwise solid season. He has had seven top-10 finishes in 18 starts and another top-10 this week would earn him a place in the US Presidents Cup team in November.
