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Storms end USPGA third round early

10/08/2008

Heavy rain has wreaked havoc with the third round of the USPGA Championships at Oakland Hills with three quarters of the field unable to finish.

The leaders did not even have the chance to start their rounds and face the prospect of playing 36 holes on Sunday.

JB Holmes still leads on one-under-par after completing two full rounds. He is one shot ahead of Justin Rose, Ben Curtis and Charlie Wei.

The biggest winner on day three of the championships was Argentinean Andres Romero who moved 40 places up the leaderboard thanks to a round of 65.

That broke the course record at Oakland Hills, the 27-year-old made seven birdies and two bogeys during his round to move to two-over-par for the tournament – three shots off the leader.

Romero finished third at the Open in 2007 and is pleased to be back toward the top of the leaderboard in a major again.

He said: "Yesterday I finished very nice with my round and now after this 18 holes I can't believe it, I have a chance for tomorrow and, well, I have to wait, but it's great to be here."

Holmes says the likes of Romero, who have moved into contention and finished their third rounds, will have an advantage on the final day but says the players at the head of the field are strong enough to overcome the handicap.

He said: "It may be exhausting to play 36 holes, you're putting that much mental effort and everything into it.

"It happens, and everybody else is going to do it too, so just have to go out there and deal with it."