Karrie Webb of Australia held a two-stroke lead when bad weather halted play for the day during the second round at the U.S. Women's Open yesterday.

Webb beat the bad weather, shooting a course record five-under-par 65 at Pine Needles.

The defending champion stood at five-under 135 through 36 holes.

Canadian A.J. Eathorne and American Cindy Figg-Currier were at three-under. Eathorne had completed just four holes, while Figg-Currier had not even teed off for the second round.

"Anything in red numbers today I would have been happy with. Five-under is definitely well in the red numbers and it really sets me up for the weekend," said Webb.

"I played really well with not a lot of mistakes. I took up where I left off yesterday, and today I got a few more putts to go in. I felt a little more comfortable on the greens than yesterday."

Webb has dominated the LPGA Tour for the past two years, but she has been forced to take a back seat this year to Sorenstam, who has already won five titles.

The stormy weather has caused a series of delays and left Sorenstam - who hit even-par first round 70 - among a group of players who had played just two holes when play was suspended for the day.

Laura Davies was lucky to finish her second round but her good fortune did not extend to her score. The 1987 champion looks set to miss the cut after a 73 for an eight-over-par 148.