Leaney on top after two rounds

On a golf course where Stephen Leaney said there were no easy holes, he had a simple explanation for how he wound up atop the leaderboard Friday at the PODS Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla.

“I’ve probably holed more putts than anyone,” Leaney said.

Staring into a bright sun that toyed with his depth perception, Leaney watched a 40-foot birdie putt on the last hole tumble in for birdie and a 4-under-par 67, giving him a one-shot lead over Heath Slocum on an Innisbrook course that won’t let anyone get too far ahead.

Defending champion K.J. Choi and Chris DiMarco were among those another shot behind, but the true measure of this tournament was found further down the leaderboard. Only 37 players remained under par and 27 of them were within four shots of the lead.

LPGA

Stacy Prammanasudh shot a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead during the suspended first round of the MasterCard Classic in Huixquilucan, Mexico, while two-time defending champion Annika Sorenstam had a 69 in her season debut.

Prammanasudh, coming off a victory two weeks ago in the Fields Open, had six birdies and a bogey on the Bosque Real Country Club course – the longest on the tour this season at 6,932 yards.

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., shot a 75, and Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum came in with a 78.

Champions Tour

Jay Haas, Fuzzy Zoeller, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Purtzer, Euardo Romero and R.W. Eaks shot 6-under 65s to share the first-round lead in the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach, Calif.

Peter Jacobsen, Allen Doyle and Morris Hatalsky were a stroke behind, and Loren Roberts, Bobby Wadkins and Bruce Lietzke topped an 11-player group at 67 on the Newport Beach Country Club.

Off the course

Stephen Ross, a 30-year member, stepped down after 18 years as executive director of the Royal Canadian Golf Association in Oakville, Ontario.