Coughlan falters after fine start

It was a mopping up operation for the second week in succession on the PGA Tour, when the second round of the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, San Diego was interrupted yesterday by yet another rain storm brought on by El Nino.

The delay came four hours after play had begun, the start having been brought forward by two hours due to an ominous forecast. In that time, a virtually unrecognisable Tom Kite had forged his way to the top of the leaderboard after 11 holes, joining overnight leader Davis Love at nine-under-par, the PGA champion having just reached the turn one over for the day.

Kite, who recently had laser treatment to his eyes and now is able to play golf without the spectacles that have been his trade mark, birdied the 17th hole on the north course and then eagled the par five 18th.

Ireland's Richard Coughlan, who started the day at one over par, began his second round as though he was about to emulate the 62 that Love shot over the north course on Thursday.

Birdies at the first, where he recovered out of a bunker to four feet, the third which saw his tee shot again finish four feet from the cup, the fifth where he sank a wedge shot from just short of the green and a great putt from 40 feet at the next saw the 1997 Walker Cup player reach three under par for the tournament after just six holes.

Unfortunately the process then went into reverse. Coughlan made a double bogey six at the seventh hole after his attempt to recover from the rough hit a tree root. His third shot finished in a greenside bunker from where he failed to get up and down.

Before play was suspended for the day because of rain, Coughlan bogeyed the 13th and 14th to find himself back at one over par with just four holes left to play.

With the cut likely to be one under, the Birr player needed at least two birdies in his last four holes to survive. Keith Nolan had little chance of making the cut after his opening 78 and was one over for the day after playing nine holes.