HILTON HEAD ISLAND — A little more than a month after clinching his maiden PGA Tour victory, American Kevin Streelman was back in the title hunt after coping well with strong gusting winds in the RBC Heritage second round Friday. The 34-year-old maintained his composure as he fired a one-under-par 70 at the picturesque Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina to move into a three-way tie for the lead at six-under 136. Level with Streelman were compatriots Charley Hoffman (70) and PGA Tour rookie Steve LeBrun (68), with English world No. 6 Luke Donald (68) and American Bill Haas (69) a further stroke back. Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, was among a group of seven players knotted at four-under after shooting a five-birdie 67. Play was halted late in the day due to the threat of lightning as heavy thunderstorms closed in on Harbour Town and 17 players will have to complete the second round Saturday. Streelman birdied three of his first five holes, then managed to limit the damage as ocean winds gusted up to 30mph across a tight, tree-lined course renowned for its emphasis on accurate ball-striking. “It got very difficult out there and it (the wind) is continuing to pick up as we speak,” Streelman, who triumphed at last month's Tampa Bay Championship, told Golf Channel. Donald, who was edged out by American Brandt Snedeker in a playoff for the 2011 Heritage title, was delighted to improve on his opening round of 69. “Today I hit it a lot better,” the former world No. 1 said after making two birdies in his last three holes. England's Brian Davis, who held a one-shot lead overnight after opening with a 65, battled to a 75 and ended the day four strokes off the pace. The cut was projected to fall at one-over 143 with world No. 5 Snedeker and multiple major champions Ernie Els of South Africa and Fijian Vijay Singh among those in danger of missing out. Pettersen maintains lead In Hawaii, Suzann Pettersen fired a four-under 68 to maintain her slim one-shot lead after the third round of the LPGA Tour's LOTTE Championship Friday. The 32-year-old Norwegian Pettersen reached 14-under-par 202 to break Ai Miyazato's 54-hole scoring mark of 206 which was set last year at the Ko Olina Golf Club course. South Korea's Seo Hee-Kyung is one stroke back in second, shooting a six-under 66 after making a bogey on the last hole. Pettersen ran off four straight pars to close out her round Friday. Defending champ Miyazato has sole possession of third place at 11-under 205 after shooting a two-under 70. Kim Hyo-Joo fired a 69 and is one shot back at minus-10. Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn is tied for fifth with two others at nine-under after shooting a four-under 68. Pettersen, a 10-time LPGA Tour winner, started quickly with birdies on the first three holes. That moved her to 13-under par and a commanding four strokes in front of the rest of the field. Pettersen's lead over Seo was cut to just two after the Norwegian made a bogey on the par-three eighth. Seo and US player Jessica Korda each shot 66 for low round of the day. Korda is tied for eighth place at minus-eight with world No. 1 Park In-Bee (67) and England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff, who shot a 68. — Agencies
