Rain cuts event to 36 holes

Morris Hatalsky did all he could to put himself in position to win the rain-delayed Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am.

Now, he'll wait a day -- maybe even two -- to find out if it's enough.

Hatalsky was one of just 22 players to complete the second round of the Champions Tour event, which was shortened to 36 holes on Saturday. The remainder of the tournament is scheduled to be played Sunday, although heavy rain is forecast and the conclusion could be pushed back to Monday.

"We knew the stars had to line up perfectly for us so that we could finish 54 holes,'' Tournament Director Bruce Sudderth said, explaining that with or without further delays, it would be impossible to play a third round.

Hatalsky finished an opening round 68 in the morning and followed with a 67 in the afternoon for a 7-under-par 135. Wayne Levi also completed the second round, posting a 68 to finish at 137.

Hale Irwin moved into contention with three straight birdies and an eagle on his way to 5 under in the first round. The winner of last month's Turtle Bay Championship in Hawaii only got in three holes of the second round and was 6-under when play was suspended for the night.

"Talking in the locker room, we all felt there was a strong possibility,'' that the event would be shortened, Hatalsky said.

The leader officially got the word as he was finishing up on the 14th hole.

Knowing that he could win the tournament without having to take a shot on Sunday, Hatalsky birdied No. 17 and then approached the last hole with one thing in mind: Don't do anything to cost himself.

"I did what I felt I could control,'' Hatalsky said. "I don't know if I'm going to end up in the winner's circle. Who knows what can happen.''

None of the 76 pros, paired with amateur partners for the first 36 holes, finished the first round on Friday, when play was suspended following a rain delay of more than four hours. In fact, nearly half the field didn't even tee off until Saturday, when officials said it was essential to get in at least half of round two.

There were 52 golfers on the course, and two waiting to tee off, when play was called just before nightfall.

Levi said if he had known for sure that the tournament was being shortened, it might have affected the way he played in the afternoon.

"It's hard to say, but it's a possibility,'' Levi said.

"When you're in the second round, you're just trying not to make any mistakes. Had I known earlier, I may have played some shots differently and been a little more aggressive on the greens.''

Don Pooley also finished at 137, two shots behind Hatalsky, who's looking for his third victory since joining the Champions Tour in 2002. D.A. Weibring and Tom Kite finished at 4-under 138.

First-round leader John Harris (65) double-bogeyed two straight holes in the afternoon and stumbled home with a 75, joining Craig Stadler, Fuzzy Zoeller, Tom McKnight and Pete Oakley at 2-under 140.

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