Golf: Choi grabs lead at storm-hit PGA Heritage

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, United States (AFP) - South Korea's K.J. Choi fired a four-under par 67 to seize a one stroke lead in the clubhouse before heavy rain halted play on Friday at the US PGA Heritage tournament.

Choi made three birdies and a bogey on both the front and back nines to stand on five-under 137 after 36 holes before play was stopped with half the field unable to finish the second round.

"We can't play anymore. It's pretty bad out there," tour competition vice president Slugger White said. "We'll try to turn it around and get the third round in and get back on track Sunday somewhere." The second round was due to resume Saturday morning.

Australia's Robert Allenby, who had a birdie-birdie start, was second on four-under after five holes of his second round when play was halted.

England's Luke Donald was in the clubhouse on 139 along with Americans Billy Hurley and Scott Lang with Americans Bo Van Pelt and Ben Martin on the course also at three under.

Choi birdied the par-5 second and fifth holes but followed a birdie at the eighth with a bogey at nine. He birdied 11 and 13 but took bogey at the par-5 15th before responding with a birdie at 16.

American Bill Haas, the first-round leader at last week's Masters, withdrew on Friday with a wrist injury after firing a 72 on Thursday. It was his first career withdrawal from a PGA event.

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