KEY POINTS:
MIAMI - Sweden's Daniel Chopra eyed his maiden PGA Tour title after joining American Bob Estes at the top of the leaderboard in the uncompleted Ginn sur Mer Classic third round at Port St Lucie, Florida, yesterday.
Chopra and Estes both birdied the par-five 11th to get to
16 under in the Tour's penultimate event, before play was suspended in fading light.
New Zealander Grant Waite was one of those affected, on even par after 15 holes when play was halted.
Chopra, 33, said: "We could have finished [the 12th] if we had to, but we didn't need to, it was getting dark." He and Estes had both reached the green off the tee on the par-three hole.
"There's a lot at stake now as I get closer and closer to that finish line for my first win on the PGA Tour."
The co-leaders were among 34 professionals who will have to complete the third round early when play resumes overnight.
Chopra, a stroke off the pace when the rain-delayed second round was finished earlier yesterday, drew level with Estes after gathering four birdies and a lone bogey in the first 11 holes.
Estes, joint pacesetter with fellow American Tommy Armour III for the first two rounds, ran up five birdies and three bogeys to remain tied for the lead.
American Briny Baird was two strokes back in a share of third after reeling off eight birdies in the first 15 holes, level with Japan's Shigeki Maruyama, after 14.
In mainly damp and overcast conditions at Tesoro Club's Palmer Course, Chopra and playing partner Estes engaged in a thrilling battle. Estes, a four-times Tour winner, faltered early when he three-putted for a bogey at the first before recovering with a 5.5m birdie putt at the par-five second.
Globe-trotting Chopra also birdied the second and the pair remained deadlocked at 15 under after they picked up further shots at the par-four third.
Although Chopra slipped back with his first bogey of the tournament after finding the rough off the tee at the fifth, Estes followed suit at the par-four sixth where he missed the fairway off the tee.
Chopra rolled in a 5m birdie putt at the sixth to edge ahead before Estes again rallied, a 2m at the par-five seventh putting him level with Chopra before he ran up his third bogey of the round at the eighth.
The gutsy American regained a share of the lead by rolling in a 3.5m to birdie the par-four ninth where Chopra missed his own opportunity from 2m.
After they each picked up another shot at the 11th, they had enough time to find the green off the tee at the 12th before play was suspended.
- Reuters
