DULUTH, Georgia : Jonathan Byrd fired a six-under-par 66 to take a three-shot lead after two rounds as the weather disrupted AT and T Classic got back on schedule.

Starting on the back nine, Byrd fired seven birdies en route to a 12-under total of 132 in the 5.5 million-dollar tournament.

Byrd notched three birdies in a row from the third before his only bogey of the day, at the par-five sixth.

The 2002 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Byrd was three in front of Ryan Palmer and Kenny Perry, who was part of a five-way tie for the lead after the first round, which was completed on Friday morning.

Byrd, 30, tied for ninth place here last year, and has one top-10 finish in 13 starts this year. His last PGA Tour victory came last July at the John Deere Classic.

Perry, who posted a 69, bogeyed the par-five fourth but rebounded with birdies at six, nine, 11 and 16 to move to nine-under 135.

Palmer endured a rough start to the day. After parring his first four holes, Palmer double-bogeyed the par-four fifth hole. He also the ninth, but eagled 10 to join Perry at nine-under.

Charles Howell (69), David Toms (69) and Parker McLachlin (70) were tied for fourth on eight-under 136.

Defending champion Zach Johnson carded a 70 for a share of 10th.

Johnson was cruising until a bogey at the sixth, the only blemish in a round that included three birdies and left him at five-under 139.

Last year, Johnson defeated Japan's Ryuji Imada on the first hole of a playoff to add a second 2007 title in Georgia to his unexpected Masters triumph.

Johnson also won this event in 2004 and tied for second in 2006.

- AFP /ls