When rain forced the suspension of the first round at the Southern Oaks Holiday Open, Rick Oyervides and Steve Graham had already built up a good lead on the field.

The two golfers were 5-under par and the only trouble they had on the course was the rain.

“We only had short putts and no bogeys,” said Oyervides. “We got soaked, but we played pretty good considering,” he said.

The field had to come back early on Sunday to finish their first round. When it was completed and the first round scores were posted on Sunday morning, Oyervides and Graham had a 3-shot lead.

The pair shot a 9-under par 63 to lead the team of Pam Prescott and David Lackey.

Instead of stopping to re-pair, the field turned in their cards and kept going to start the second round and Oyervides and Graham kept going too.

The first round leaders got off to a great start in the second round. Graham, who owns club championships at Saluda Valley and Lakeview was deadly with his wedge.

The senior golfer had a chip in eagle from 30 yards and a chip in birdie on another hole to help add to the team’s lead.

“Making those chips helped, but if you can stay away from bogeys that makes the difference in this format,” said Graham.

The second round was the same as the first, no bogeys on the scorecard again for the leaders.

When the team posted its final score it had improved by 3-shots over the first round.

A second round 12-under par 60 to go with the first round 63 added up to a 21-under par total and a 9-shot win over the team of Johnny Pope and Eddie Chapman.

“You don’t shoot that kind of score unless both of us are playing good golf,” said Oyervides.

The team of Prescott and Lackey shot their second straight 6-under par 66 to finish in third place.

Flight winners included: First Flight – Weston Bell and Robert Lutomski, Second Flight – Jeff Bell and Julian Taylor, Third Flight – Steve Riddlehoover and Ron Reilly, Fourth Flight – Marty Kwasniewski and Dennis Courtwright.

The players in the tournament will help make Christmas better for children at the Easley Dream Center with toys donated by golfers in the tournament.