The Associated Press

HUMBLE, Texas - PGA Tour rookie Zach Johnson continued a terrific stretch of golf with a 4-under 68 Friday and was in a three-way tie for the lead when the second round of the Shell Houston Open was suspended by darkness.

Johnson, who won earlier this month at the BellSouth Classic, overcame a second day of gusty winds and a 2-hour weather delay. With 36 players to finish their second round early today, Johnson, Steve Stricker and Steve Lowery were at 5-under 139

Among those to finish today was Neal Lancaster, who was one shot behind the leaders with three holes remaining. John Riegger was at 4 under with one hole to play.

Patrick Sheehan, Paul Azinger and Vijay Singh finished the second round at 4-under 140. Justin Leonard, Mark Calcavecchia and Scott Hoch were among six players another stroke back.

Johnson, 28, was the 2003 player of the year on the developmental Nationwide Tour. He has been good his last few times out, finishing 13th at the Honda Classic six weeks ago, sixth at Bay Hill the following week and then winning the BellSouth. He's 15th on the money list with almost $1.16 million.

Lowery finished with a flourish in the twilight Friday, making three consecutive birdies for his 69. In nine events so far this year, he's got only one finish in the top 25.

Stricker is trying to rebound from a disappointing 2003, when he finished in the money only eight times and just once was in the top 25 at a tournament. Back in 1996, he posted two of his three tour victories and wound up No. 4 on the money list. Stricker had an early tee time and took advantage of calmer conditions, particularly the winds, that grew to a steady 20 mph with stronger gusts by mid afternoon.

"It picked up probably on our seventh or eighth hole today and maybe even a little gustier than yesterday," said Stricker, who's made the cut only twice in nine previous outings this year and came to Houston ranked 182nd on the money list.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Gil Morgan shot a 7-under-par 65 for a one-stroke lead over Hale Irwin and Dave Barr in the first round of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf in Savannah, Ga.

Craig Stadler, seeking his second win of the Champions Tour season, was at 67. Bruce Fleisher, also looking for his second win, was among five players at 68.

This was the 22nd straight round of par or better for Morgan, who won the SBC Classic last month. He had eight birdies and one bogey on the island layout in the middle of the Savannah River.

"I felt like I had a chance to birdie every hole," Morgan said. "Of course, you like to think that every day, but today it seemed feasible."

SPANISH OPEN: David Park shot a 5-under-par 65 in the wind, stretching his lead to four strokes halfway through the tournament in the Canary Islands. He was at 11-under 129 after two rounds, with Christian Cevaer (67) at 133 and Peter Hedblom (66) at 134. Jose Maria Olazabal, playing in his home country, shot a 75 and missed the cut.