Jordan Spieth enjoyed a short spell at the top of the leaderboard at the AT&T Byron Nelson before Ben Crane stood out from the crowd among the late starters to snatch a one-shot advantage going into the weekend.
World number two Spieth, who has a surprisingly poor record in his home state since finishing in a tie for 16th here as a 16-year-old, fired a five-under 65 to join Brooks Koepka and Bud Cauley in a share of the lead after the morning starters had completed their rounds.
When the late starters got going, overnight leader Sergio Garcia signed for a 66 to join them at 11 under, but it was Crane who starred with eight birdies in his round of 63 moving him to 12 under after two rounds.
On Thursday, Crane had completed his first bogey-free round in 36 attempts to join a nine-way tie for eighth, and although he did drop a shot on the eighth second time around, he could have few complaints about how they day ended.
As he did in the opening round, Spieth again dropped a shot on the par-three 13th, but otherwise had six birdies to keep himself firmly in contention.
A hole-out from the Crane, a curious squirrel and one tough turtle. https://t.co/piVuyGBzlN
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 21, 2016
"I took advantage of the easier holes, a couple of the long holes, I found both par fives in two and two-putted for birdies," the 22-year-old said on the PGA Tour website.
"Just very limited mistakes. I've three-putted the 13th twice now but really those are the only mistakes I've made this week."
Garcia, like Crane, began his round in the afternoon but could not match his opening-day efforts, carding four birdies in an error-free round of 66 that left him in the tie for second place.
The suspension of play early on Thursday evening left a handful of players to complete their rounds on Friday morning, and Danny Lee and Johnson Wagner used the opportunity to join Garcia at the top of the leaderboard as they matched his round of 63.
However, they fell away in their second rounds with Lee dropped into a tie for eighth with a 69 and Wagner managing only an even-par 70 after three bogeys in four holes on the front nine.
The round of the day belonged to DA Points, who had six birdies and a bogey on the front nine to make the turn at five- under, and he was threatening the course record of 60 after three straight birdies from the 11th to the 13th.
However, he played the final five holes for par to settle for a 62 which vaulted him up into a share of 16th place at seven under.
