Kim's 63 Leads Suspended Colonial

May 24, 07:15 PM

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Ft. Worth, TX (Sports Network) - Thunderstorms caused two weather delays Thursday in the first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, eventually forcing the suspension of play until Friday morning.

Anthony Kim shot a seven-under 63 and had the clubhouse lead at the former Colonial when the round was suspended for good around 4:30 p.m. local time, about 1 1/2 hours after the second weather delay began.

The first delay lasted from 11:23 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Play will resume Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. local time.

More thunderstorms like the ones seen Thursday are forecast for the remaining three days of the tournament, but because this is an invitational field, there is a better chance things will remain on track for a weekend finish.

Just 57 of 114 players finished their first round Thursday.

Ted Purdy and Jeff Maggert both shot six-under 64s and were one stroke off Kim's lead in the clubhouse. Nathan Green, Jeff Quinney and Peter Lonard had five-under 65s and shared fourth place.

Frank Lickliter II was on the course at five-under and Kevin Na was four- under, also on the course. Both players were through eight holes.

Kim ended the round with six consecutive birdies -- a PGA Tour high for 2007 -- to equal his career-best score, which he shot in the final round of the Nissan Open in February.

Over the first 12, he had three birdies and two bogeys -- a one-under score that would have put him around 40th place when play was suspended.

The last six holes changed everything.

"I don't know what changed. But the putts started falling and six birdies came out of it," he said.

Kim's 63 was 20 shots better than his last competitive round, the second round of the Players Championship two weeks ago, when he stumbled to an 83 and missed the cut.

He took last week off.

"I had a week off and was refreshed," Kim said. "I think that got me motivated for this week."

Only one of the world's top 13-ranked players is playing at Colonial Country Club. No. 3 Jim Furyk was one-under through five holes when play was suspended.

Defending champion Tim Herron, who won in a playoff over Richard S. Johnson, opened with a three-under 67 and was tied for ninth place in the clubhouse.

05/24 18:40:47 ET