LAKEWOOD RANCH, Florida – After 36 holes at Lakewood National Golf Club, J.T. Griffin and Maverick McNealy share the lead at 16-under 128 entering the weekend at the LECOM Suncoast Classic. Second-round play was suspended due to darkness at 6:29 p.m. with one group remaining on the course.

Beginning the day 8-under through 15 holes of his first round, Griffin added a late birdie to his first-round total and followed it up with a 7-under 65 in the second round to share the lead. Griffin qualified into the event with a 65 on Monday.

“The hardest part of Monday qualifying is the pressure you put on yourself,” said Griffin. “You give yourself a little extra anxiety just to get into the tournament…I was just happy to make the cut this week. Everything on top of that is gravy.”

The 31-year-old is seeking his best career finish on the Web.com Tour, previously set at T14 last year at the Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Heartland Chevy Dealers. He noted the grind of playing Monday qualifiers and mini-tours as a taxing element throughout the golf season.

“I’ve seen so many guys catch their break later in their careers these days,” said Griffin. “It can be tough watching Spieth and Justin Thomas take off so early, but before them it was pretty rare…Patton Kizzire is a good friend of mine, and I saw him kind of struggle and break through, and I’d like to follow in his footsteps. People just peak at a different time, and I’m hoping I’m getting my feet wet.”

After a clean scorecard netted a 4-under 32 at the turn, Griffin added six birdies, a bogey and a double on his second nine to reach 7-under on the day. He two-putted for birdie at the last to keep a share of the lead.

“The birdie at the last was big,” said Griffin, donning a hat from Fish Hippie, an apparel company where his parents work. “That was the first bad break I’d had this week [the double on No. 8], so it busted my bubble a little bit. Getting the birdie on No. 9 was important…if I had gone double bogey and then a three-putt par to end it would have made lunch taste a little worse.”

McNealy, who carded back-to-back 64s to open play, notched seven birdies, an eagle and a bogey on Friday. Despite claiming it was his worst shot of the day, the 23-year-old holed out for eagle at the par-4 eighth.

“I actually played way better yesterday, despite the score,” said McNealy. “I hit a lot of shots that didn’t come off how I wanted them to, but they ended up great. I drove it awesome today which helps. I didn’t putt great or have a sharp short game, just felt a little lucky out there. The worst shot I hit today was my wedge shot on No. 8, which caught the ridge and went into the hole for eagle. It was just one of those days.”

McNealy, a Stanford University alum and former world No. 1 amateur, cited a stronger mentality this season after an up-and-down rookie season last year.

“I learned a ton last year, but I think I’m just tougher this year,” said McNealy. “I said my goal this year was to have the mindset of a hockey player, not a golfer…You have to be a little bit gritty and a little bit tough to win out here on the weekend.”

The second round will wrap up on Saturday morning beginning at 8:45 a.m. Third-round tee times will run from approximately 9:45 a.m. – noon.