Weather stalls Mig charge

Jimenez: caught up with Rumford with three early birdies in third round

Miguel Angel Jimenez had drawn level with Brett Rumford for the lead at the Ballantine’s Championship after nine holes of the third round when play was suspended for the day.

The Spanish veteran, playing in the last group alongside Rumford, had birdies at the first, second and ninth on the way to the turn in 33 shots at the Blackstone Golf Club in Incheon, South Korea.

Jimenez had started three behind Rumford, who fired a 63 on Friday but failed to recapture that form in damp conditions.

The Australian could only manage a level-par front nine, bouncing back from a bogey at the seventh with a birdie at the next.

The duo were tied at 10-under-par for the tournament when the threat of lightning brought a premature end to a day that had already seen more than two hours lost in the morning due to heavy rain.

Welshman Rhys Davies is two behind on eight-under-par after playing 10 holes in two under on Saturday, with a group of seven players at various positions on the back nine – including American Dustin Johnson – a stroke further back.

World number one Lee Westwood is in contention on six-under-par. He picked up shots at the first two holes of his third round before reeling off 10 straight pars before the suspension.

Organisers plan to resume play at 8am local time on Sunday.