SEOUL — Two birdies on the last three holes took Australian Wade Ormsby to the share of the clubhouse lead with Thailand's Arnond Vongvanij on another weather-hit day in the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea Friday. Rain and lightning in the morning brought play to a halt for 80 minutes after more than two hours were lost due to poor visibility Thursday. South African Jbe Kruger, Swede Alex Noren and England's James Morrison were a stroke behind the clubhouse leaders. Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, the highest-ranked player in the field, was three shots off the pace after completing a first-round 69 and returning for a second of 71. Ormsby compiled a five-under-par 67 after returning in the morning to complete a first round of 70. Starting on the back nine, Ormsby picked up four shots to reach the turn in 32 but made a bogey on the second hole. He shot back into contention, adding to more shots on the seventh and ninth to come home for a total of five-under 137. Barnes seizes one-shot lead In New Orleans, Ricky Barnes had an eagle and seven birdies in an eight-under par 64 Thursday to seize a one-shot lead in the first round of the US PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Barnes matched a course record at TPC Louisiana, where the water-logged course saw players allowed to lift clean and place their balls in the fairway. The American golfer, who has missed the cut in seven of his last nine starts, had a one-shot lead over former US Open champion Lucas Glover and Boo Weekley. It was a further stroke back to D.A. Points and Morgan Hoffmann on six-under 66, with South African Ernie Els heading a group of 10 players on 67 that also included Australia Matt Jones and Rickie Fowler. Another 15 players were tied on 68, a group that included England's Justin Rose and Brian Davis and South African Trevor Immelman. Chinese 14-year-old schoolboy Guan Tianlang, two weeks after a historic Masters debut as the youngest player at Augusta National, carded an even par 72 that included three bogeys and three birdies. The teenaged star is playing on a sponsor's exemption. — Agencies
