Six-way tie as play suspended in Texas

Scott Verplank fired five birdies in 13 holes and climbed into a six-way tie at the top the leaderboard as rain and darkness brought a premature end to the third round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial GC in Fort Worth on Saturday.

The 42-year-old currently lies on nine under par alongside Americans Pat Perez, Kevin Na, Arron Oberholser, Ben Curtis and South African Rory Sabbatini, one stroke ahead of a group of five players that includes halfway leader Tim Clark.

Verplank, who is looking to become the first player to win the Byron Nelson and the Colonial in the same year since Ben Hogan in 1946 after claiming the former four weeks ago, began his round with a birdie on the par-five first hole and never looked back.

The veteran also picked up shots at the fourth, seventh, 10th and 11th holes to post a total score of 136 with five holes of his penultimate round to play.

Torrential rain has plagued the first three days at Colonial Country Club, suspending every round so far.

Twenty-eight golfers had to complete their second rounds on Saturday morning and after yet another day of periodic rainfall, the entire remaining field of 70 golfers will have to finish their third rounds on Sunday morning.

Play will resume at approximately 8am local time.