O'Hair, Villegas lead windy Kiwi Challenge 

Source: ReutersCamilo Villegas

American golfer Sean O'Hair and Camilo Villegas of Colombia shared the lead through 15 holes of the $US2 ($NZ2.73m) Kiwi Challenge when strong winds curtailed play at Cape Kidnappers on Wednesday.

O'Hair and Villegas were at 2-under par 33, while Anthony Kim was 1-over and defending champion and fellow American Hunter Mahan was 3-over.

The first round was to resume on Thursday, followed immediately by the final round.

Play was halted on the 16th hole when gusts reached more than 80kph .

"It got crazy out there," Villegas said.

"It was so beautiful, so calm at the beginning. Then, when we got to the 10th, it started blowing.

"Sean even lost his cap into the ocean standing on the 16th tee. I didn't really want to hit my drive at that point. I like the wind, but when it gets unfair it's no good."

Villegas birdied the 14th from close range to take the lead alone at 2-under, but O'Hair caught him with a birdie on the long downwind par-5.

After a 380-yard drive, O'Hair hit a 5-iron to the 650-yard hole, and then made an 8-footer for birdie.

O'Hair and Villegas each made four birdies and two bogeys over the par 71, 7187-yard layout, though the former cashed in with the longer putts, making three of his four birdies from 20 feet or more.

Mahan started strong with birdies from close range on the first two holes, but fell back with four bogeys in a seven-hole stretch mid-way through the round.

Kim slipped off the pace on the par-5 fourth after hitting his second shot into trouble and taking double bogey.