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Bryant takes one-shot lead

Bart Bryant held a one-shot lead in the rain-disrupted first round of the US$5.3 million USPGA Tour event in Palm Harbor on Thursday.

Bryant posted a six-under-par 65 at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, holing six birdies -- including back-to-back birdies to close his round.

Bryant had already completed his round when an afternoon thunderstorm caused a delay that eventually saw 82 golfers still on the course when darkness stopped play.

Stewart Cink, Jeff Maggert and Kenny Perry all completed on five-under 66, while Lee Janzen was five-under through 15 holes.

Sweden's Carl Petterson, Jonathan Byrd and Tom Pernice were all in the clubhouse at four-under, while Australians John Senden and Stuart Appleby were four-under on the course.

Fred Couples finished 2-under in his first start since being named next year's US Presidents Cup captain.

■ MALAYSIAN OPEN

AFP, KUALA LUMPUR

Local hero Danny Chia produced a barnstorming finish for the joint clubhouse lead in the Malaysian Open yesterday, giving him the chance to make history.

No Malaysian has won the national championship, but the Asian Tour regular kept his dream alive with six birdies against a lone bogey at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club.

Chia's two-day total of 12-under 132 was matched by overnight leader Nick Dougherty of England, who completed his round of 70 in near darkness, which included a birdie at the last, following a two-hour suspension because of a lightning storm.

A stroke back was Dane Soren Kjeldsen, who fired a 68 in the US$2 million event sanctioned by the Asian and European tours, while title holder Peter Hedblom of Sweden and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, who also shot a 68, were a further shot adrift.
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