Rickie Fowler figured the opening round of the Aggie Invitational golf tournament would be washed out because the weather forecast called for storms most of Saturday.
The rain relented and eventually was chased away by late-afternoon sunshine, but thunder and lightning still hit Traditions Club during a stirring duel between Oklahoma State's Fowler and Bronson Burgoon, the No. 1 player for host Texas A&M team.
Fowler unleashed an electric front nine and Burgoon roared on the back nine as they each fired tournament-record 65s, plunging 7-under par on a course softened by rain and made more vulnerable under lift, clean and place rules.
Heavy rain reduced Saturday's scheduled 36 holes to 18. Players were allowed to take the ball out of water-filled bunkers without penalty and clean and place their ball from tee to green. Although the soggy conditions caused Traditions to play longer, the greens were soft and receptive, making Saturday a record day.
The 22nd-ranked Aggies set a school mark by shooting 14-under par as a team but were relegated to second place going into Sunday's final round. Second-ranked Oklahoma State lowered the tournament record by five shots with a 19-under score of 341.
Oklahoma State freshman Peter Uihlein trails Burgoon and Fowler by one shot after his 66 matched the previous tourney record set by Texas Tech's Oscar Flores in 2005.
Fowler seemed poised to threaten the course record of 62 after he scorched the front nine in 6-under 30. The sophomore from California started with a par, then reeled off five consecutive birdies without needing a long putt. Fowler also birdied No. 9.
"I didn't think we were going to get to play," Fowler said. "I kept looking at the radar and the forecast said there was going to be thunder and lightning storms all day. It turned out to be really nice."
Burgoon had some doubts about how well he'd play after he got on the practice range Saturday morning.
"It's weird because I had a terrible warm-up session and I wasn't playing very good the first few holes," Burgoon said. "I tried to hang in there, and things started clicking on the back nine."
Burgoon made the turn at 3-under. The senior from The Woodlands birdied four of the last seven holes to tie the school record of 7-under and match the low round of his career.
"It was a little bit frustrating on the front," Burgoon said. "You definitely don't want someone to run away from the field. I knew Rickie was capable of going low, so I had to step up my game."
Burgoon burned the edge of the hole as he missed a 6-foot birdie putt on No. 11, but he stuck his approach on the next hole within 3 feet and made the putt. Burgoon rolled in a 15-footer for birdie on 14.
Neither Burgoon nor Fowler suffered a bogey all day. Both birdied the par-5 15th, where Burgoon made a run at an eagle putt from about 20 feet.
The vulnerability of the course showed on the last two holes. Burgoon sent his drive on 17 near a tree in the middle of the fairway, but he was able to place the ball in a good spot and fired his approach to about 4 feet for a birdie. On 18, Fowler hammered a brilliant 4-iron that landed softly within 5 feet, but his birdie attempt spun out.
"The course played about as easy as it ever could," Burgoon said.
Although the conditions made the course vulnerable, not everyone took advantage. Half of the field shot over par, including Ohio State's Brad Wright, who struggled to a 6-over 78 in the group with Burgoon and Fowler.
The tournament's 36-hole record for individuals (136) could fall Sunday. With an unusual format of six players per team and five scores counting, the team record of 1-over could be obliterated.
However, officials expect the course to be dry enough to play under regular rules Sunday. Without ball-in-hand access, birdies likely will be harder to find.
"I think Traditions will show its teeth a little bit tomorrow," A&M coach J.T. Higgins said. "It's going to be a lot tougher challenge."
San Diego State shot 4-under 356 and will start the final round in third place, 10 shots behind the Aggies. Kent State is fourth among the 12 teams at 357, one stroke ahead of New Mexico.
A&M junior Andrea Pavan opened with a 3-under 69 and is tied for fifth place. Every member of the Aggie lineup was at or below par, including Matt Van Zandt (70), John Hurley (71), Ignacio Elvira (71) and Geoff Shaw (72).
Playing as medalists, A&M's Austin Schauer shot 70 and Clay Hodge had a 71. Aggies Jordan Russell and Conrad Shindler posted 73s.
Oklahoma State got 3-under rounds from Trent Whitekiller and Morgan Hoffman. Matt Hoffenberg led San Diego State with a 68.
The final round will begin at 8 a.m. Burgoon and Fowler are scheduled to tee off last at 10:13 a.m.
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