LA QUINTA, January 22, 2012 (AFP) - Mark Wilson put the finishing touches on a third-round 67 on Sunday to take a three-shot lead into the afternoon's final round of the US PGA Tour Humana Challenge.
Wilson was atop the leaderboard when dangerous winds forced suspension of the third round of the $5.6 million tournament on Saturday afternoon.
He stayed there when the round was completed with a 21-under par total of 195, three strokes ahead of Zach Johnson, Robert Garrigus, Ben Crane and Brandt Snedeker.
Garrigus joined the group on 198 with a third-round 61. Johnson posted a 65, Crane a 70 and Snedeker 66
Tournament officials hoped to complete the event on Sunday. In order to do so, the third round resumed with professionals only, leaving out the celebrity amateurs such as former US President Bill Clinton who were slated to play through three rounds.
Australian great Greg Norman, who had completed nine holes with Clinton on Saturday when play was halted, was among the players who withdrew.
Norman, making his first US PGA Tour start since 2009, opened with a 72 and posted a 71 in the second round. He had just double-bogeyed the ninth hole to turn in 38 when play was halted.
Other players who withdrew included Australians Steve Elkington and Gavin Coles.
Leading scores here on Sunday in the weather-delayed third-round of the US PGA Tour $5.6 million Humana Challenge on the Arnold Palmer Private Course and Jack Nicklaus Private Course at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club (final round underway; USA unless noted, all par-72):
195 - Mark Wilson 66-62-67
198 - Zach Johnson 68-65-65, Robert Garrigus 73-64-61, Ben Crane 65-63-70, Brandt Snedeker 64-68-66
200 - John Mallinger 67-65-68, David Toms 63-65-72
201 - Johnson Wagner 68-67-66, Steve Marino 65-68-68, John Senden (AUS) 69-64-68
202 - Jason Dufner 71-63-68, Bobby Gates 68-63-71, Jarrod Lyle (AUS) 68-67-67, Martin Laird (GBR) 66-69-67, Brendon Todd 66-67-69
203 - Cameron Tringale 68-64-71, Stephen Ames (CAN) 66-67-70, Camilo Villegas (COL) 63-68-72, Jeff Maggert 69-65-69