MARION , Iowa – Mark Blakefield of Maysville, Kentucky went to the first tee at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in rain, got called off the first tee because of lightning, was sent back out to the first tee in rain and was again called back because of lightning. When he finally teed off 90 minutes later, the wind picked up in typical Hunters Ridge fashion. But Blakefield held things together Friday and retained the lead in the 16th annual Greater Cedar Rapids Open.

Blakefield, a University of Kentucky grad who has kicked around on the Web.com Tour a few times, fired a solid 3-under-par 69 and holds a two-shot lead heading into Saturday’s final round of the 54-hole event.

Blakefield’s 12-under-par 136 total is two shots better than Chris Naegel of Chesterfield, Missouri. Naegel cut a stroke off Blakefield’s first-round lead with a 4-under-par 69. Justin Hueber, the 2013 runner-up at the GCRO who knows how to finish at Hunters Ridge, carded a 5-under 67 in the wind and is three shots back at 9 under.

Those three will tee off at 10:10 a.m. Saturday in the final threesome of the tournament.

Justin Bryant of St. Louis, Missouri, who was tied for second along with Naegel after one round, is four shots out of the lead after a solid 2-under 70. Those four figure to battle it out for the $20,000 first prize. Six golfers are at 5-under 139 and another four are one stroke further back.

Naegel was in the last group of pros to tee off and bogeyed the par-5 17th hole in twilight or else would be one shot back. Hueber, who shot a 6-under-par 66 last year on the final day to finish one shot behind champion Chris Baker, put himself in position for another charge by birdieing 17 and 18. He had an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys.

Despite the poor weather conditions which forced a 90-minute delay, 25 players shot under par Friday at Hunters compared to 32 on Thursday, when conditions were good. Colin Neeman of Waterloo, Illinois had the round’s best day with a 6-under 66 after a 76 on Thursday. Playing partner Joseph Juszczyk of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, had a 67, which tied for second-best with Hueber. Andy Winings, the 2010 GCRO champ and the third member of that threesome, couldn’t feed off the other two however. Winings, only four out of the lead after one round, had a 3-over 75 and is 10 shots back. Justin Regier of Cary, North Carolina, who was tied with Winings after one round, also shot a 75.

Also falling by the wayside was Billy Brozovich of Jackson, Mississippi, who went from a 66 and three out of the lead Thursday to a 75 Friday.

Gary Mortara Sr., of San Leandro, California, took control of the Senior division with a 1-over 73. He is five shots in front of Airport National head pro Mark Lemmon, who had a 79.

In the Amateur division, Ryan Schrimper of Cedar Rapids is still in the lead but now he’s sharing the spot with Michael Peters of Florence, Alabama. Both are at even-par 144.

Expect the trophy presentation somewhere around 3:30 p.m.

Don Wojciechowski resides in the Hunters Ridge Golf Course community and plays the course on a regular basis. He’s a former sports editor for a suburban Chicago daily newspaper and an avid golf fan.