NEW YORK, 23 January 2005 — Tom Lehman fired a second round five-under-par 67 at the Buick Invitational to stretch his overnight lead from one to three shots as fog and darkness curtailed play at the Torrey Pines Country Club on Friday.
With the first two rounds of the $4.5 million tournament staged on different layouts, the 2006 US Ryder Cup captain followed up a sizzling opening round of 62 on the North course with an equally brilliant effort on the more difficult South course. Despite leading, Lehman feels he could have shot a lower score.Lehman’s round at the venue for the 2008 US Open leaves him with a healthy advantage over Australia’s Peter Lonard, who still had one hole to complete when play was halted due to darkness.
World No. 2 Tiger Woods looked set to card the round of day when he reached eight-under on the 17th hole but with the fading light ending his round early, he finished 35 holes on 11-under-par and four strokes off the pace. Among those who completed their second round, Australia’s Scott Hend had the best 18 holes, firing an eight-under-par 64 to leave him among a pack of six at eight-under.
Woods, who is fighting the lingering effects of a flu virus, should sleep well after closing out his round in style, returning from the fog delay to birdie three of four holes.
Ernie Els, who can take over second spot in the world rankings if he can finish ahead of Woods, appeared to be in a fog much of the day struggling to post a one-under-par 71.
Phil Mickelson shot a five-under 67 but the US Masters champion still has plenty of work to do to notch a fourth title, sitting 10 shots off the pace alongside Spain’s Sergio Garcia.
World No. 1 Vijay Singh has yet to show the form that carried him to victory at last week’s Sony Open in Hawaii and he sits 13 shots back with one hole to play. Play will resume at 7:30 a.m. with 59 players returning early to complete the second round and the projected cut currently standing at two-under-par. Lehman is pleased he had just enough time to finish his second round before the darkness descended.
