By Rahul Banerji
Korean star Sungjae Im shared the lead with American Brandon Wu on Saturday as weather disruptions hit the third round of the Wyndham Championship.
Compatriot Joohyung “Tom” Kim was lying one back and India’s Anirban Lahiri and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand also stayed in title contention.
Chasing a third PGA Tour win and the season’s second, Im made four birdies in 11 holes for a total of 12-under as two weather breaks ensured 74 players would resume their rounds on Sunday morning.
Entering the week at 15th in the FedEx Cup, the 24-year-old Im needs a two-way tie for second or better to have a chance of finishing in the Comcast Business Tour Top 10, which pays $1 million to the 10th-ranked player.
Scottie Scheffler has already clinched top spot and will earn $4 million.
A winner of the Classic International in Gurgaon, Kim, 20, continued to produce some wonderful golf as he birdied 5 and 6 to stay in the running for a dream victory, a week after securing enough FedExCup points to earn his PGA Tour card for next season.
A win will earn Kim immediate membership with the PGA Tour and a spot in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Lahiri (stood at 3-under through 11 holes and 10-under for the tournament, and was one of those who welcomed the suspension of play.
Lone blemish
He had made bogey on 11, which spoilt his card after carding birdies on 5, 7, 8 and 9.
Currently 7ot in the Playoff standings, Lahiri stands to gain significantly with a good finish at the Wyndham Championship, also the only PGA Tour event won by an Indian.
The third round was suspended after weather conditions threatened and led to two resumptions of play.
The 74 players who have yet to complete the third round – including much of the upper half of the leaderboard – will resume early on Sunday.
Final round tee times will consist of threesomes off split tees.
Interestingly, five players within two shots of the lead are seeking a first tour title – Wu (T1), Joohyung Kim (T3), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (T5), Lahiri (T5) and Davis Riley (T5).
At 20 years, 1 month and 17 days, Kim could become the second-youngest tour winner since World War II (youngest: Jordan Spieth/2013 John Deere Classic) and the first player born in the 2000s to win on the tour.
Also read: Lahiri two off Wyndhan pace in search of breakthrough win
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