Japanese touring pro tops Senior PGA field

Kiyoshi Murota shot a 5-under-par 67 yesterday to take a four-stroke lead in the Senior PGA Championship over a glittering scoreboard that includes Nick Price, Hale Irwin and Tom Watson.

The 55-year-old touring pro and golf teacher from Japan followed an opening 66 to stand at 11-under 133 in the Champions Tour's major tournament at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

Price was one of 78 players who had to return to the course yesterday morning to complete the first round because of weather delays. He polished off a 70 and was 7-under along with Irwin, a three-time U.S. Open champion who has won the Senior PGA four times. Irwin, who turns 66 next week, had rounds of 69 and 68.

Loren Roberts and Olin Browne were 6-under after 70s. Gary Hallberg was 5-under after a 67, and Watson had a 70 to top the group at 4-under that also included Mark O'Meara (72).

In other tournaments:

* Sergio Garcia and Ryan Palmer share the lead after two rounds at the PGA Tour's Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas, at 8-under 132. Tim Petrovic and Scott Piercy are three strokes back. Local amateur teen Jordan Spieth is at 3-under and made the cut for the second year in a row. His high school graduation ceremony is today.

* Second-ranked Luke Donald, of England, Italian teenager Matteo Manassero and Alvaro Quiros, of Spain, were tied for a two-shot lead after two rounds of the BMW PGA Championship in Virginia Water, England.

American John Daly withdrew after 14 holes of the second round because of a hip injury. The two-time major winner was 12-over par and set to miss the cut.

* Rory Sabbatini withdrew from next week's Memorial, saying he no longer needs to play because he is exempt from qualifying for the U.S. Open. His decision comes amid speculation he is facing a suspension from the PGA Tour over his unruly behavior on the course in recent months. *