Tom Lehman played bogey-free for the second straight day, carding a 6-under-par 66 to build a three stroke lead over Kirk Triplett, John Inman, Roger Chapman of England and Bart Bryant before rain halted play in the second round of the Encompass Championship at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill.
Lehman, trying to win for the first time since the 2012 Charles Schwab Cup Championship near his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., shot 65 in round one and has 13 birdies with not a blemish on his scorecard through 36 holes.
“It’s been a while since I had one bogey-free round, and to do two in a row is special,” said Lehman, who was an assistant pro at Wood Ranch in Simi Valley years ago before getting to the PGA Tour by way of what is now the Web.com Tour.
“I haven’t missed many putts inside six feet. If you were to rate whether I’m making the most of my opportunities, I think you’d say I’m doing pretty well.”
Triplett and Inman both carded second straight 67s before the rains came and Chapman got in with a 68, but Bryant was 5-under for the day after 16 holes when play was halted and will return to finish Sunday morning.
Michael Allen of San Mateo and University of Nevada Reno was four strokes back in sixth and Colin Montgomerie of Scotland was another shot behind in seventh, both after 16 holes.
Doug Garwood of Valencia shot 71 and was six shots back in a tie for eighth with Jose Coceres of Argentina, who had a 69, and Jeff Sluman, Steve Elkington of Australia and Nick Price of Zimbabwe, who were still on the course late in their rounds when the horn sounded.
