ORLANDO, Florida — Overnight leader Morgan Hoffmann maintained his sublime form to take a three-shot lead at the halfway mark of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Friday as Rory McIlroy and defending champion Matt Every moved into contention. Hoffmann followed his opening 66 with a sizzling seven-under-par 65 for a 13-under-par total of 131 at Bay Hill. “It's been fun out there. Just kind of being pretty mellow and trying to hit the middle of greens,” said Hoffmann, a former junior ice hockey player and Oklahoma State University golfer ranked 137th in the world. Every had five birdies in a row from the fourth hole on his way to a 66 that vaulted him into second place at 134, a total matched by afternoon starters Harris English (66) and Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who birdied his last four holes for another 66. One shot further back was Ben Martin, who shot a 67 for 135. World No. 1 McIlroy also had a streak of five birdies in his 66 that moved him to eight under par for the tournament alongside Sweden's David Lingmerth (67), Australia's Matt Jones (65) and South Korean Danny Lee, who fired a bogey-free 64. McIlroy started the day at the 10th and began his birdie blitz at the second hole. A bogey on his penultimate hole dropped him to 136. Jang grabs lead In Phoenix, only nightfall could slow down South Korea's Jang Ha-na, who had seven birdies in 11 holes Friday to seize the lead when darkness halted the second round of the LPGA Founders Cup. Jang was 11-under for the tournament, inching ahead of clubhouse leader Kim Hyo-Joo, who carded a three-under 69 in the second round for a 10-under total of 134. Stacy Lewis, who led by one when the first round was completed earlier Friday, managed a one-under 71 in the second round to share third place on nine-under 135. Kim Kaufman, who was three-under par through 12 holes of her second round at Wildfire Golf Club was also nine-under for the tournament. France's Karine Icher (70) and South Koreans Lee Mi-hyang (66) and Lee Il-hee (67) were tied for fifth on eight-under 136. Defending champion Karrie Webb posted a second-round 70 to head a group of four players to complete two rounds at seven-under 137. Seven more players, including world No. 1 Lydia Ko, were still on the course at seven-under when play was halted. Madeira suspended In Portugal, bad weather disrupted the Madeira Islands Open for a second straight day Friday as organizers were forced to suspend the first round again. Play was stopped after heavy rain flooded the greens on the Clube de Golf Santo da Serra course, with Denmark's Joachim B. Hansen holding the clubhouse lead after a 4-under 68. He was one shot ahead of England's Andrew Marshall and French pair Adrien Saddier and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet. The four were among roughly half the field able to complete the first round. On Thursday, heavy winds sweeping the Portuguese archipelago kept play from starting and led to organizers reducing the event to 54 holes. — Agencies
