WOODY AUSTIN, last seasons PGA rookie of the year, fired a six under par 65 in Phoenix, Arizona on Thursday for a one stroke lead when darkness halted play at the

Austin stands at 10 under par 132, one stroke ahead of Jesper Parnevik with more than 40 players remaining on the course when play was suspended.

"I'm just happy to be finished," Parnevik said. "We ran the last four holes, but I holed a 15 footer for birdie on the last hole."

Austin was in the clubhouse early and anxious to show his hot rookie season was not beginners' luck.

"I'm playing extremely well and I'm playing very smart," said Austin, who had five birdies and one bogey. "I really trust my game right now. I've only had two bogeys in the last 90 holes. I came out this season to prove that (last season) was not a fluke. I was playing so well today that I was going for the flag on almost every hole."

Justin Leonard and Steve Jones share third at eight under par 134.