Watabu recorded a 10 on a par-5 hole en route to an 8-over 80 in the completion of his rain-suspended first round early today. He then had five birdies on the front nine of his second round later to get back into contention for match play. However, on the back nine, he gave three shots back with a double bogey on his 10th and a bogey on his 12th (he started on the back nine).

That's when thunderstorms came and suspended play for the second consecutive day, leaving Watabu at 6-over for the tournament and in danger of missing the cut.

The low 64 scores after two rounds of stroke play advance to match play. The final is on Saturday.

Three other Hawai'i golfers never got started today.

Sean Maekawa, of Pa'auilo, Hawai'i, shot an even-par 72 yesterday and is in the top 10.

Samuel Cyr of Makawao, Maui, shot 78, and Layne Morita of Kapa'a, Kaua'i, 84 yesterday.

Max Bonk of Waimea, Hawai'i, completed his first round today, shooting a 9-over 81, and later shot 2-over 74 in his second round for a 155 total, and was tied for 122nd place.

Watabu played just one hole yesterday before thunderstorms took over at Cantigny Golf Club, forcing play to be suspended with 78 of the 156 players on the course.

Only 26 of the 155 competitors — one player withdrew today — managed to complete their second round of stroke-play qualifying on the 7,048-yard, par-72 layout.

Round 2 will resume tomorrow with the first round of match play to follow.

Daniel Woltman, 20, of Beaver Dam, Wis., is the current leader in the clubhouse for medalist honors at even-par 144 after carding a 1-under-par 71 in Round 2.

First-round leader Carlos Estanislao Goya, 19, of Argentina, who carded a 68, is three over through 15 holes and stands at 1-under par.

Last year, Watabu defeated Anthony Kim of Traverse City, Mich., 4 and 3, to win the 36-hole championship match at the 2006 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Gold Mountain Golf Club. Kim is now a rookie on the PGA Tour.