Nicholas Thompson and Briny Baird took advantage of calm, clear conditions to shoot 7-under 65s and lead after the weather-delayed first round of the Shell Houston Open on Friday. John Senden joined the leaders with a 65 later in the day and Paul Casey, James Nitties and Tommy Armour III were among the group one-shot back when the opening round ended late Friday afternoon. The first round resumed under blue skies and mild breezes after high winds forced the suspension of play on Thursday. Fred Couples and Justin Leonard posted early 68s. Nitties had the best score among the 72 players who had their rounds stopped on Thursday. Phil Mickelson stumbled to a 77. Briton Lee Westwood had held a two-shot lead when play was abandoned on Thursday. Kim, McPherson set pace In California, Christina Kim made the most of a morning start to move into a tie for the early lead in Friday's wind-swept second round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship. The popular Korean-American, known for her flamboyant clothing, birdied the last two holes to card a three-under-par 69 at Mission Hills Country Club. That left her at six-under 138 in the first women's major of the year, level with American Kristy McPherson who returned a 70. Former US Women's Open champion Cristie Kerr of the US fired a 68 to finish at five under, two strokes in front of South Korea's Kang Jimin (70) and Australian Lindsey Wright. Wearing one of her distinctive berets, Kim made a fast start with four birdies in the first nine holes to reach the turn in four-under 32. American Brittany Lincicome, who set the first-round pace with a sparkling 66, and Mexican world number one Lorena Ochoa were among the late starters.
