Longshot Barnes takes one-shot lead

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — With gray skies still misting rain on Bethpage Black, the fog finally cleared long enough on Saturday night for the U.S. Open to take shape. Against almost all odds, the second round was completed, the 36-hole cut was made and the third round got under way — albeit on squishy footing.

Defying a forbidding forecast of lightning, thunder and more drenching rain — much of which dissipated or skirted the already-soaked golf course — the Open reached the halfway point at just after 4:30 p.m. EDT. The field was cut to the low 60 players, at 4-over par; the third-round pairings were made and the round began an hour later.

The third round was suspended after less than two hours, but that it started at all was almost as surprising as the identity of the halfway leader, Ricky Barnes at 8 under, and the position of some of the pretournament favorites, like Tiger Woods, who was in a tie for 34th at 3 over.

Barnes burst into the lead Saturday morning by adding three birdies in nine holes to the two he had made Friday for a 65 that put him at 132. Barnes, who has not won a tournament since his victory in the 2002 U.S. Amateur, had not only the lead but also the lowest 36-hole total in U.S. Open history.

Was the 28-year-old Barnes as surprised as everyone else?

"At having the 36-hole lead in the U.S. Open? Yes. At playing well? No," he said. "I've had a good year on the Nationwide Tour, with nine top 10s, and I've been working hard on my game."

The U.S. Golf Association and the maintenance staff at Bethpage State Park's Black Course have been laboring ceaselessly to get the Open completed on time. Although there was more rain overnight Friday, the course was in amazingly good condition for the 7:30 a.m. start of play. More than 11 hours of play was completed before play was suspended at 7:09 p.m.

Today's weather is expected to be similar to Saturday's, with forecasts calling for scattered and occasionally heavy showers beginning in the afternoon. Play is scheduled to resume at 7:30 a.m., with 16 players yet to begin the third round.

Lucas Glover, who finished a flawless second round of 64 by adding three birdies to his previous three, trailed Barnes by a stroke. Mike Weir completed an even-par 70 and is at 6 under, two strokes off the lead.

The advantage on Saturday remained with the players whose tee times were late in the first round and early in the second. Only Lee Westwood was able to significantly buck the trend, shooting a 66 that vaulted him into a tie for seventh place at 2 under par. The group at 2 under included University of Washington star Nick Taylor, who shot a 65.

Puyallup's Ryan Moore is tied for 17th at even par after getting through two holes of his third round.

Because of the manageable size of the field, there remains an outside chance that play could conclude today.

Despite all that has happened, the chances of a storybook finish at Bethpage still are intact, even if the chance of Woods's closing ground are remote. For him to do it would require that he match Lou Graham's record 1975 comeback from 11 strokes behind.

But lurking near the lead is Phil Mickelson at 1 under, seven strokes back, and David Duval, winless since his 2001 British Open victory, is 3 under.

For Duval, who has been getting nearly as much crowd support as Mickelson, to win after all he has been through in the seven intervening years, would be a stunning achievement.

"I'd really like for my wife and family to see how I can actually play this game," said Duval, who climbed to No. 1 after his British Open victory but has fallen to No. 882. "They haven't seen me at my best. I want them to."