Golf: Vijay up for JL of a chase

JL Lewis fired his second straight six-under-par 65 to take a two- stroke lead after a very wet second round of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.

Rain was the interloper throughout the day and when the round was suspended, eight golfers were still on the TPC at Deere Run golf course and will complete their round on Saturday.

The 43-year-old said: "I played fairly well all day.

"I was lucky. I think the guys that teed off earlier this morning kind of got the bad end of the draw.

"We were fortunate to only have rain on a couple of holes. The guys in the morning really got the rain."

Colourful umbrellas were everywhere as golfers and spectators alike tried to keep dry despite the muggy air.

Lewis moved to 12-under (130), getting in before darkness settled over the course.

First-round co-leader Jonathan Byrd fired a 4-under 67 and is two shots back.

Vijay Singh of Fiji signed for a 68 that put him at eight under 134 and in sole possession of third place.

He will join Lewis and Byrd in the final grouping.

Chris Riley (69) and Paul Stankowski (65) are tied for fourth at seven-under. Bernhard Langer of Germany used a 65 to move into a tie for sixth with Kevin Sutherland and Justin Leonard (67s).

Lewis fired five birdies and an eagle to overcome his first bogey of the week.

Lewis, who won this in 1999 for his only PGA Tour victory, admitted: "I might have been sharper yesterday. But I might have been trying a little harder today. I was grinding a little harder.

"Hopefully I can be mentally sharp this weekend. That would help."

Singh is having a phenomenal year, making 21 of 22 cuts. He has 13 top-10 finishes and has made the top 25 in 19 events. He ranks third on the money list and a win in Silvis will move him to the top of the heap.

He said: "I played really well. These are the conditions where you don't really want to play much golf because if the ball gets wet on the tee box, it can squirt a little bit."

Singh won the Phoenix Open and the Byron Nelson Classic and finished tied for second in three other events.

He is a strong candidate for Player of the Year.

Singh added: "I've been out there so many times. Right now, I don't think I'm in contention unless I would go out and win the next three or four events. The money title is more important than Player of the Year for me."

Leading money winner Davis Love III shot his second straight 70 but is well off the pace at 2-under 140.

Former world No.1 Greg Norman stumbled to a two-over 73 to miss the cut.

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