MILWAUKEE (Wisconsin), July 29: Corey Pavin's overnight lead at the Milwaukee Open was trimmed to two strokes when the rain-delayed first round was completed on Friday.

Fellow American Chris Smith, one of 106 players out on the course when thunderstorms truncated the opening day, returned a seven-under-par 63 to climb into second place.

India's Arjun Atwal and American Jerry Kelly were a further shot back in a tie for third with South African David Frost among a group of five on 65.

Former US Open champion Pavin had set a blistering pace with a sparkling 61 on the Brown Deer Park Golf Course the previous day, setting a PGA Tour record with a front nine of 26.

The 46-year-old broke the previous mark of 27 first achieved by compatriot Mike Souchak at the 1955 Texas Open and equalled by Andy North (1975 B.C. Open), Billy Mayfair (2001 Buick Open) and Robert Gamez (2004 Bob Hope Classic).

Pavin, who won 1995 US Open at Shinnecock Hills, birdied the first six holes in overcast conditions and picked up further shots at the eighth and ninth to complete a sizzling outward nine.

Although he collected only one birdie after the turn, at the par-four 16th, he held a three-shot lead when play was suspended.

Leading first round scores:

61 – Corey Pavin (US).

63 – Chris Smith (US).

64 – Jerry Kelly (US), Arjun Atwal (India).

65 – Jason Bohn (US), Skip Kendall (US), Cameron Beckman (US), Billy Andrade (US), David Frost (South Africa).66 – Bob May (US), D.J. Trahan (US), Jeff Sluman (US), Tommy Armour III (US), Scott Gump (US), Garrett Willis (US), Frank Lickliter II (US), Bubba Dickerson (US), Dean Wilson (US), John Riegger (US), Lee Janzen (US), Todd Fischer (US).

67 – Jonathan Byrd (US), Nathan Green (Australia), Ben Crane (US), Fred Funk (US), John Huston (US), Alex Cejka (Germany), Joey Sindelar (US), Nicholas Thompson (US), K.J. Choi (South Korea), Ryuji Imada (Japan), Glen Day (US), Chris Riley (US), Jason Schultz (US), Tag Ridings (US).—Reuters