Snedeker keeps 3-stroke lead

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Brandt Snedeker, who launched his Wynd­ham Championship campaign with a scintillating first-round 59, main­tained a three-shot lead when play was halted in the weather-hit third round on Saturday.

Snedeker, who became just the ninth player to post a sub-60 round on the US PGA Tour on Thursday, stayed atop the leaderboard with a second round 67.

He got going early on Saturday, rolling in a 60-foot birdie putt at the second hole at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, and adding a 10-foot birdie at the fifth.

He was two-under for the round, and 16-under for the tournament through seven holes when thun­derstorms halted play.

Tour officials were all set to send players back out when more storms moved through, prompting them to call a halt.

Snedeker was preparing himself for a long day on Sunday.

‘‘The physical side, we’re used to,’’ Snedeker said. ‘‘Just, you mentally get fatigued and fried and make some mistakes. The key for tomorrow – make sure I don’t do that.’’

American Brian Gay was Snedeker’s closest pursuer. He was 13-under for the tourna­ment through 12 holes with four birdies and an eagle at the par-five fifth, where he drained a 10-footer.

Taiwan’s C.T. Pan got as low as 13-under with birdies at the fourth and fifth holes, but he gave a shot back at the seventh and was tied at 12-under with Trey Mullinax, Keith Mitchell and D.A. Points when play was halted.

In all, 30 players failed to com­plete the third round. They were to return Sunday morning, with the fourth round to follow.

Michael Thompson was the leader in the clubhouse after a third-round 63 put him on 11-under 199.