The Associated Press

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Although it might seem unfamiliar, Notah Begay III felt right at home atop the leaderboard at the Honda Classic.

Begay shot a 5-under 67 in Friday's second round to take a share of the lead with David Peoples at 14-under 130 when play was suspended because of darkness.

Begay is a highly confident four-time winner on the PGA Tour who also played on Stanford's 1994 national championship team.

But after finishing the 2000 season ranked 20th on the money list, he battled back problems for two years, and he didn't lead a tournament heading into the weekend until Friday.

"It's just a symbolic accomplishment for me, knowing I've bested the field the first two days, and going into the weekend I have a real great opportunity to win the golf tournament," Begay said. "It's just a matter of maintaining position, staying focused and reassuring myself that all the ills and the pain, mentally and physically, that I've dealt with over the last couple of years is in the past."

Davis Love III, the only player in the tournament who's among the top 10 in the world rankings, heads a long list of golfers within striking distance of the lead. Love (65), Tom Byrum (64) and Esteban Toledo (67) were 13 under.

Tim Herron, Jerry Kelly, John Huston and Jeff Brehaut were two strokes back. Kelly tied a tournament record with a 10-under 62. He one-putted the first 10 holes and was 10 under with four holes to play - and thinking about tying the PGA Tour record of 59.

LPGA TOUR: Meg Mallon fell just short of Annika Sorenstam's record 59 and settled for a nice consolation prize - a comfortable three-shot lead midway through the first LPGA tournament of the season.

Mallon shot a 10-under 60 in the second round of the Welch's-Fry's Championship in Tucson. She needed a birdie on the 18th to tie Sorenstam for the lowest score in tour history, but she left an 18-foot downhill putt about 31/2 feet short.

"It's funny saying you're disappointed to shoot 60," Mallon said.

Sorenstam had her record round two years ago in Phoenix.

Mallon's 36-hole total was 16-under 124, sending first-round leader Lorie Kane, Wendy Doolan and Young Kim into second place at 127. Kane, who shot the fourth 61 in LPGA history Thursday, had a 66. Doolan shot 62 and Kim 64.

Vicki Fergon (1984), Sorenstam (1999) and Karrie Webb (2000) all had 11-under rounds that are ahead of Mallon's score in relation to par.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Early starter Gil Morgan avoided the afternoon wind that kept scores high and shot a 7-under-par 65 to take the first-round lead in the SBC Classic at Santa Clarita, Calif.

"I think the early starters had an advantage," Morgan said. "With the wind picking up in the afternoon, and the forecast for rain over the weekend, it was important to get off to a fast start."

Morgan eagled the first hole.

QATAR MASTERS: David Howell shot a second-round 72 and was tied for the lead in the dust-delayed event in Doha, Qatar.

Howell, one of just three golfers to complete the second round, is tied with Jean-Francois Remesy, who was 4 under through 12 holes on his second round. Howell and Remesy are 6 under overall.

A desert sandstorm and blustery winds halted the tournament Thursday, with just 72 of the 150 players teeing off and no one finishing the first round. Players completed the first round Friday. The second round will be completed today.