NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana), March 30: American John Merrick completed his second consecutive five-under par 67 round to seize a one-stroke lead Sunday after the third round of the storm-interrupted New Orleans Classic.

The second-year PGA player who turned 26 on March 20 enjoyed a bogey-free round to stand on 10-under par 206 after 54 holes in the $6.2 million event with players already on the course starting their final round.

One stroke behind Merrick entering the last 18 holes were Americans Woody Austin, Nicholas Thompson, Briny Baird and Argentina’s Andres Romero with American Tim Petrovic and Australian Peter Lonard another stroke back on 208.

Because of heavy rain and lightning on Saturday, 46 players were forced to finish their third round Sunday morning, with 36-hole leader Baird needing to finish his final 15 holes.

Players kept the same pairings they had for the third round and began play at scheduled tee times, so those who finished early Saturday were on the course behind heels as the holes wore on.

World No 1 Tiger Woods and many other top players were taking the week off ahead of the Masters, which opens April 10 at Augusta National Golf Club.

Leading third-round scores:

206 – John Merrick (US) 72, 67, 67.

207 – Andres Romero (Argentina) 73, 69, 65; Woody Austin (US) 69, 71, 67; Nicholas Thompson (US) 69, 71, 67; Briny Baird (US) 67, 69, 71; Peter Lonard (Australia) 67, 70, 70.

208 – Tim Petrovic (US) 74, 68, 66.

209 – John Senden (Australia) 74, 69, 66; Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 71, 70, 68; Todd Hamilton (US) 70, 70, 69; Marco Dawson (US) 71, 68, 70; Jay Williamson (US) 68, 69, 72.

210 – Jonathan Byrd (US) 72, 71, 67; Daniel Chopra (Sweden) 71, 73, 66; Dudley Hart (US) 73, 69, 68; Jon Mills (Canada) 71, 70, 69; Roland Thatcher (US) 70, 70, 70; Tim Wilkinson (New Zealand) 71, 68, 71; Parker McLachlin (US) 72, 67, 71.

211 – Jose Coceres (Argentina) 75, 68, 68; Kenny Perry (US) 71, 71, 69; J.J. Henry (US) 74, 68, 69; Nathan Green (Australia) 71, 69, 71; Jeff Maggert (US) 70, 70, 71; Steve Elkington (Australia) 68, 71, 72; Craig Barlow (US) 72, 71, 68.

212 – Brian Bateman (US) 73, 70, 69; Bob Estes (US) 72, 72, 68; Liang Wen-Chong (China) 71, 72, 69; Mark Hensby (Australia) 74, 68, 70; Patrick Sheehan (US) 69, 73, 70; Pat Perez (US) 71, 70, 71; Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 71, 70, 71; Steve Flesch (US) 69, 72, 71; Brian Davis (Britain) 71, 68, 73; Kevin Sutherland (US) 71, 71, 70; Charles Warren (US) 70, 74, 68.—Agencies