Fred couples and Len Mattiace both shot five-under-par 67s yesterday to share the twostroke lead at nine-under 135 after the rain-interrupted second round of the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio.

Lightning forced play to be suspended in the afternoon at Muirfield Village and play was called again for darkness with one threesome still on the course. The three American stragglers, none among the leaders, were to finish the last two holes early this morning American time.

Mark Calcavecchia and Harrison Frazar, the rookie who is on the leaderboard for the third week in a row, were at seven under par, both men shooting rounds of 69.

Rain has fallen at least once during Memorial week in all but one of the 23 years this tournament has been held, and this was the 14th round over the last 10 years to have been interrupted or cancelled by a rainstorm.

Couples had seven birdies and two bogeys in his round, with five of the seven birdies the result of putts holed from between 10 and 20 feet.

Ireland's Keith Nolan recovered well after an opening 74 to be three-under-par after 15 holes of the second round of the Nike tour event in Knoxsville, Tennessee yesterday. But both he and Richie Coughlan, who was one shot further back after rounds of 70 and 74, were well off the pace set by Craig Kanada at 13 under. Both Irishmen made the cut.