First round leader Pierceson Coody made two late birdies to maintain a two-shot lead in the 116th Trans-Mississippi Amateur Championship Wednesday, before heavy rain and lightning forced a postponement to the second round at Maridoe Golf Club.

He began the day with a three-shot lead thanks to an course record 66 Tuesday, but at one time on Wednesday was tied by Brigham Young golfer Rhett Rasmussen, but Coody made birdies on holes No. 4-5 (his 13th and 14th of the day) to surge back in the lead.

At the end of a soggy Wednesday, Coody, a University of Texas star who lives in nearby Plano, was at 5-under par for the tournament, 1-over-par for his second round after 15 holes.

Rasmussen, who finished earlier in the day, was at 71-141 total, 3-under-par, after 36 holes. University of Texas Golfer Paul Gonzalez, was also at 3-under, but had much of his back nine still to play.

“I still feel like I have a lot of momentum left over from college this spring and I still feel good about my game,” Coody said.

He teamed with his brother Parker and World No. 1 Amateur Cole Hammer to lead Texas golfer past heavily favored Oklahoma State and into the NCAA finals this year.

Perhaps the happiest person about the rain delay wasn’t even in the Maridoe Clubhouse when the delay started at 5:21 p.m., CST.

Brigham Young senior Rasmussen was long finished with his round, when the rains hit, but was feeling fine about his second round score, a shot higher than the his opening round 70, but still within striking distance of his first Trans-Miss title.

“I hit it straight all day today and gave myself a lot of chances today,” Rasmussen said. “I didn’t make many putts, so I like I took a step back, but I’m right where I need to be.

One thing the Draper, Utah native was less certain about was the Texas summer heat which soared triple figures in heat index for the second day in a row.

“Is it always this hot out there? I don’t think I’ve ever sweated this much in my life,” he said.

He finished eighth at the Trans-Miss at the Olympic Club three years ago and was looking for an advancement this year.

“It’s brutal out there, but I’m ready to go.”

Another early finisher happy to be in contention was a fine round before the rains came was University of Texas incoming freshman golfer Travis Vick. The Houston golfer shot a one-under 71 for a 143 total which currently puts him tied for fifth.

“I didn’t hit it all that good, but I made a lot of putts and that made we feel good about the round.”

Defending champion Hayden Springer, a recent graduate from TCU, didn’t get to finish his round, but was alone at fourth place at 2-under-par, when the weather sirens blew. He signaled he wasn’t ready to give up his title yet when play was halted after his 15th hole.

“I didn’t know they were going to refer to me as the defending champion on the first tee. That’s pretty cool people still remember and something I am honored to try and defend.”

While the event has one of the most star-studded champions list in golf with several major PGA champions, no player has repeated Trans-Miss Champion since Allen Miller in 1970-71.

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