Langer leads rain-shortened Senior Players Championship

Bernard Langer opened a two-shot lead at the Senior Players Championship on Friday before a thunderstorm suspended the second round in Owings Mills, Md.

Langer was on a roll with five birdies on the back nine before the second storm of the day came through while he was on the 17th hole. The 59-year-old German was 6 under par for the round and 13 under in the tournament.

Corey Pavin made it through the round with a 68 and was two behind in the clubhouse at 11-under 133.

Brandt Jobe, also stuck on the course, was alone in third at 10 under through 16 holes. Scott McCarron shot 68 and was next at 9 under.

Langer, a three-time defending champion, recovered from his only bogey of the round at the par-4 first hole. He birdied Nos. 3 and 5 before reeling off four straight from Nos. 10-13 and adding another at the par-5 No. 16, his final hole of the day before the suspension.

Pavin opened the second round with five consecutive birdies but slid into second place after bogeys on Nos. 16 and 18.

Like Pavin, McCarron posted five birdies on the front side and had two bogeys on the back. After the weather delay, he came back to save par on Nos. 17 and 18 to salvage his round.

First-round leader Larry Mize soared to a 76 that included five bogeys after opening with a 64 on Thursday. He was tied for 15th at 4-under 140 through 36 holes.

The players with holes still to play will complete the second round on Saturday morning before the third round gets underway. The players will tee off on Nos. 1 and 10 to expedite the third round.

A strong early afternoon thunderstorm had caused a delay of nearly two hours and 30 minutes at Caves Valley Golf Club before play resumed and then the second storm hit.

Tournament officials waited 35 minutes after the late afternoon storm began before suspending the round for the day.