NATCHEZ — Four players share the clubhouse lead at 9-under-par 135 Friday evening in the yet-to-be-completed second round of the National Golf Association’s 2013 Magnolia Bluffs Casino Classic at Beau Pré Country Club.

The first round, which wasn’t completed until late Friday morning, saw Ryan Blaum of Coral Gables, Fla., shoot his way into the lead with a bogey-free round of 9-under-par 63. However, he wasn’t able to keep the momentum going in Round 2 and wound up with an even-par 72.

Zack Fischer of Wake Village, Texas, went into the second round tied for second and three shots back of Blaum. He erased that deficit with a 3-under-par 69. Kyle Thompson of Greenville, S.C. backed up his opening-round 67 with a second-round, bogey-free round of 4-under-par 68.

Jason Millard of Murfreesboro, Tenn. entered the second round a good five shots behind Blaum, only to respond with six birdies en route a round of 5-under-par 67. And that was despite having a bogey on the par-5 10th hole.

Of the three local players in the field, amateur Casey Ham of Natchez has played by far the best. He shot an opening-round 68 despite having just one birdie on the four par-5 holes and shot a second-round 70 to for a two-day score of 138. He is one of seven players currently tied for fifth place.

“I hit good shots and made some putts,” Ham said. “I scrambled. I got up and down when I needed to. I played solid (in the first round) and made some par saves. I made a couple of birdies and then had a couple of good par saves.”

Ham added that it was tough having to walk 34 holes today after his first round was stopped due to inclement weather after only two holes Thursday afternoon.

“The course is in good shape. It really needed the rain (Thursday),” Ham said. “The NGA puts on a good event. I’m happy to play with these fellows.”

Amateur Jordan Farmer, also from Natchez, was still on the course when play was halted due to darkness. Stephen Hollingsworth, a Natchez native now living in Spring, Texas, had back-to-back rounds of 80 to finish at 160.

The completion of the second round will start at 7:30 a.m. today. As to when the third round will get under way remains a question mark because of having to do the cut line, the tee times and pairings, and having to get the course ready to play.