Rookie Booker Tied for Lead

Eric Booker, a PGA rookie, made the transition from the Nike Tour look easy Friday, shooting a bogey-free 63 for a share of the second-round lead in the $2.6-million Compaq Classic at New Orleans.

Booker, fourth in earnings on the Nike Tour last year, birdied half the holes on the course, including No. 18, considered one of the toughest holes on the PGA circuit. He sank a 20-foot putt from just off the green to complete his round.

“Today was just fun,” he said. “It was just a great day. Making the birdie on 18 was nice. I always like to please the crowd.”

Booker’s two-day total of 13-under-par 131 tied him for the lead with Omar Uresti. They were two shots ahead of Steve Flesch and three up on Blaine McCallister.

David Duval, the leading money winner on the tour, did not make the cut, after a first-round 70 with a 74 on Friday for a two-day total of 144.

Duval hadn’t missed a cut since the Sprint International last year, a stretch of 15 events. The last two times Duval failed to make the cut, he won the following week.

Flesch, last year’s PGA rookie of the year, shot a 67 for a two-day total of 133.

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Becky Iverson used to spend her winters playing the LPGA International course but rarely made the cut when it came time for the Titleholders Championship.

But on a cloudy day that yielded to low scoring and then thunderstorms, Iverson made eight birdies for a six-under 66 and a one-stroke lead over Kris Tschetter before play was suspended at Daytona Beach, Fla.

Annika Sorenstam again made it look easy in another round of 68 and was two strokes back, while Nancy Lopez had her best putting day of the year for a 66 and was in a group at 137.

Dark storm clouds caused play to stop at 3:32 p.m., and the LPGA called it a day at 6 p.m. Half of the 144-player field that was still on the course will return this morning to finish the second round.

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George Archer, who nearly quit golf a year ago, shot a four-under 68 to grab a share of the lead with Graham Marsh after the first round of the Nationwide Championship at Alpharetta, Ga.

Archer, who will be 60 on Oct. 1 and is seeking his 19th victory on the Senior PGA Tour, had a bogey-free round that included four birdies over the soggy, 6,885-yard, par-72 Golf Club of Georgia course.

Marsh had five birdies and one bogey to match Archer.