ESPN Golf Online news services
Saturday, April 15

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Unheralded Seiji Ebihara of Japan had been the first-round leader at the rainy PGA Seniors' Championship for over two days, but now he has company.

After rain forced the suspension of first-round action Thursday and completely wiped out Friday's play, Doug Tewell moved into a tie with Ebihara this morning at the Senior PGA Tour's second major of the season.

Tewell completed his last five holes at even par to finish at 4-under-par 68.

With the tournament shortened to 54 holes by the inclement weather, 50 players started at the PGA National Golf Club at 7:45 a.m. ET, while the second round began at 8:00 a.m.

Defending champion Allen Doyle finished his round of 69 today to move into a tie for third with Dana Quigley, Hubert Green and Gibby Gilbert.

On Thursday, Ebihara overcame two delays totaling nearly three hours to take the clubhouse lead. A Japanese invitee by the PGA of America, Ebihara is playing an official event in the United States for the first time since 1985.

Ebihara is a member of the Japan Senior PGA Tour and his teacher is eight-time Senior PGA Tour winner Isao Aoki. He said he will play some European PGA Tour events this season. His only other official event in the United States was a 26th-place showing in the 1985 World Series of Golf in Ohio.

In his second year on the Senior Tour, the 50-year-old Tewell has posted two top-five finishes in six starts this season. He tied for fourth at the LiquidGolf.com Invitational and followed that two weeks later with a tie for second at the Audi Senior Classic.

Hale Irwin, who won this event from 1996-98, finished his round Thursday is one of six golfers who carded a 70. The legendary Jack Nicklaus, who won this event in 1991, shot a 71 after completing his round today.

Tom Watson and Lee Trevino are in a group of four at even-par 72. Both players finished their round on Thursday.

Tom Kite, who won The Tradition -- the first major on the Senior Tour -- two weeks ago, shot a 73.

The 6,754-yard PGA National course is hosting this event for the 18th consecutive year and 45th overall, but this will be the final time it will be held here. The oldest major on the Senior Tour will begin a rotating schedule with a move to Paramus, New Jersey next year, its 62nd since debuting at Augusta National Golf Club in 1937.