SAVANNAH, Ga. — When regular partner Jerry Pate was unable to play, Andy Bean turned to Lu Chien-soon. Turned out to be a good move.

Bean and Lu teamed to shoot a better-ball 12-under 60 in a steady, light rain yesterday for a 125 total and a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf.

"We have one more round to play, but I'm sure I'll be getting a phone call from Jerry," Bean said with a laugh.

Is it possible Pate will have to find a new partner next year?

"I think I got a pretty good one right now," Bean said. "Yes."

Bean and Lu played the final 10 holes in 10-under par to pull ahead of the teams of Blaine McCallister and Bob Tway (63), and first-round co-leaders Nick Price and Mark O'Meara (64).

John Cook and Joey Sindelar (65) shared the first-round lead and were alone in fourth place at 127 heading into today's final round of the Champions Tour event at The Club at Savannah Harbor, an island layout in the Savannah River.

Bean and Lu started the day at 7 under, three shots out of the lead. Bean's birdie from 8 feet at No. 9 got them to 10 under at the turn and started their charge up the leaderboard. Bean holed out from 126 yards with a 9-iron for an eagle at No. 10. The duo birdied every hole after that until the 18th, where they settled for par.

Lu, a native of Taiwan, was an outstanding player in Asia who had to survive an eight-hole playoff for the final spot during Champions Tour qualifying school last fall.

"Good horse, man," Bean said of Lu. "He lasts a long time. Load the wagon."

McCallister and Tway made just two birdies on the front nine. But Tway hit a 3-wood to 20 feet and made the putt for an eagle at No. 11, then used an 8-iron from 157 yards for a hole-in-one at No. 15. It was the seventh ace of his career.

"It's obviously a lot of luck," Tway said. "You could hit a lot of good shots that don't go in and it happened to go in."

Winners of this event each will earn $230,000 of the $2.7 million purse.

PGA TOUR

BOHN TOPS SUSPENDED ZURICH

AVONDALE, La. — Jason Bohn had a three-stroke lead yesterday when third-round play in the weather-plagued Zurich Classic was suspended because of darkness.

Bohn, celebrating his 37th birthday, shot a 5-under 67 in the completion of the second round and was even par through six holes in the third.

"What I'm most excited about is how I'm just really focused and I'm very patient at what I'm trying to do," Bohn said after completing the second round.

Greg Chalmers and Alex Cejka were tied for second at 9 under. Chalmers played seven holes in the third round, and Cejka completed six.

"I'm a little bit tired today," Cejka said. "But I'm glad I got seven holes in or 6 1/2 and I'm 2-under par today."

Chalmers was one of the few well-rested players yesterday after completing his second round Friday.

"I had a pretty relaxing day, really," the Australian said. "Sitting around watching TV, bored out of my mind for about eight hours. Then I came out and played seven holes, six holes really well, and one hole just average."

Kevin Sutherland, Greg Owen, John Senden, Jeff Overton and Shaun Micheel were 8 under. Sutherland finished 11 holes, while the others were still on the front nine.

The rain and lightning that stopped play Friday and delayed it yesterday morning gave way to strong wind that gusted to more than 40 mph by the afternoon.

EUROPEAN-ASIAN TOUR

AUSTRALIAN FRASER IN LEAD

JEJU, South Korea — Marcus Fraser of Australia shot a 2-under 70 yesterday to maintain his lead after the second round of the weather-shortened Ballantine's Championship.

Fraser is at 9 under and a shot ahead of defending champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand (67), Tano Goya of Argentina (70) and Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin (68).

Organizers had to reduce the tournament to 54 holes after fog disrupted play for more than six hours Thursday.

Ernie Els shot a 69 and is two strokes back of Fraser. The South African is going for his third win this year.