Demsey builds 3-shot lead before night falls in Chattanooga Classic

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Todd Demsey took sole possession of the lead at 13 under par in the second round of the Chattanooga Classic on Friday. David McKenzie, Kyle Reifers, Chris Baryla and Josh Teater are three shots back at 10 under.

Play was suspended at approximately 6:45 p.m. ET due to dangerous weather conditions with 50 players still on the course.

Demsey's 5-under 67 on Friday followed a 64 in the opening round.

"I didn't play quite as well as yesterday, but I hung in there," he said. "I feel pretty good about most parts of my game right now. I made a few bad swings today, but wasn't far off and am pretty happy with how everything turned out."

Demsey, 37, was a two-time All-American at Arizona State University, where he was teammates with Phil Mickelson. He is playing his ninth full season on the Nationwide Tour since his rookie year in 1995. He also played two seasons on the PGA Tour, in 1997 and 2008.

Currently 88th on the money list, Demsey needs to get into the top 60 to advance to the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island in two weeks. Only the Chattanooga Classic and next week's Miccosukee Championship remain to improve his ranking.

At the conclusion of the Nationwide Tour Championship, the 25 leading money winners earn PGA Tour cards for 2010 and the top 60 maintain fully-exempt status on the Nationwide Tour.

Reifers, who started the day five shots off the lead, birdied his first six holes in a row and finished with a 7-under-par 65.

Play will resume at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. After the second round is completed, the field will be cut to the low 60 and ties and regrouped for the third round with players going off the first and 10th tees in threesomes.

Notebook: Adam Mitchell, the 22-year-old Chattanooga native and member of this year's victorious Walker Cup team, is 2 over for the tournament through 12 holes in the second round. ... The best rounds of Friday were 7-under 65s by Reifers, Skip Kendall (tied for 53rd) and Vance Veazey (tied for 32nd). ... Garth Mulroy (injured hip) and Matthew Richardson (illness) withdrew during the second round.

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