Heavy rains that have struck southern California for days washed out the second round of the 90-hole Bob Hope Classic on Thursday, with officials pushing it back to Friday.

More than an inch of rain fell upon the desert region, making an unplayable mess of the four courses used in the five-day, five million-dollar tournament. Water pooled upon greens and swamped fairways across the usually dry area.

Prospects are not much better on Friday, however, with forecasters predicting a 90 percent chance of showers.

More than two inches of rain have fallen on the area this week to make this the first time in 30 years that a Bobe Hope round was postponed or halted by rain. The final round was played a day late in 1980.

American Shane Bertsch fired a bogey-free 10-under par 62 on Wednesday to seize a two-stroke lead after the opening round.

© 2010 AFP/sid