Chattanooga, TN (Betting Express) - Monday qualifier Stephen Gangluff sits atop the leaderboard at eight-under par during Thursday's suspended first round of the Chattanooga Classic.

Play was called close to 8:00 p.m. (et) due to inclement weather and the competitors will return to Black Creek Club at 7:50 a.m. Friday morning to complete the round. There was also a two-hour delay to start Thursday's opening round.

James Nitties is alone in second place at seven-under par. He completed 13 holes of his first round.

Gangluff, who has no status on the Nationwide Tour after finishing 109th on last year's money list, began on the back nine Thursday and birdied the first hole.

He birdied the 12th hole, then hit a horrible six-iron left of the green. Gangluff atoned for the mistake with a chip-in birdie, then drained a four- footer for eagle at the 14th.

Gangluff ran off three birdies in a row from the 16th for a front-nine 28. He parred his first three holes on the second nine and will be confronted with a 30-foot birdie putt at the fourth when he returns Friday morning.

"It was crazy. It was a fun front nine, I'll tell you that," said Gangluff, whose opening-nine score of eight-under 28 was the lowest on tour this year. "The hardest part is just to stay out of your own way and not think about what you're doing."

Nitties, also a Monday qualifier, birdied four in a row on his front side, then birdied No. 18. He birdied his final two holes, three and four, to get into second.

Barry Cheesman, Chris Tidland, Jay Delsing, Mathew Goggin, Johnson Wagner and Ryan Armour are tied for third place at six-under-par 66. Scott Gump and Ben Bates are also at six-under par with one hole to play.