George McNeill had just managed to get his nose in front when darkness halted the fog-delayed first round of the US PGA Tour's $US5.5 million McGladrey Classic on Thursday.
McNeill was eight under with two holes to play when the round was halted, with Briny Baird and Brian Gay sharing the clubhouse lead on seven-under-par 63.
McNeill will be hoping to secure his lead when round one resumes on Friday.
Four players were in the clubhouse on five-under 65 - former US Open champion Webb Simpson, Kevin Kisner, South Korea's Noh Seung-Yul and Kevin Chappell - while Robert Garrigus was five-under with five to play.
Australian John Senden was among 10 players at four-under 66 in a tie for ninth.
McNeill's eight birdies in his first 16 holes included five in a row starting at the par-five 15th.
His birdie at the par-five seventh nudged him in front of Baird and Gay, who were able to complete their rounds despite an early morning fog delay of almost two hours that saw 50 players fail to finish.
Baird, 41 and still seeking a first win on the PGA Tour, had seven birdies in his flawless first round.
He hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation and notched his lowest score since 2009.
"If there's such a thing as an easy 63, today was," said Baird, who had surgery on both shoulders in 2012.
I do not feel pain in either shoulder," Baird said.
"It's a good feeling."
Baird has five runner-up finishes on his resume, and his nearly $US13 million in winnings is the most of any active player without a victory.
"Does it wear on me? A little bit, but probably not as much as it seems," he said.
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