Verplank has chance of completing Texas two-step at Colonial

Scott Verplank watches his shot from the third tee during the third round of play at the PGA Tour Colonial tournament on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. Verplank is at 9-under par and is in a six-way tie for the lead. PHOTO: AP

Scott Verplank has set himself up for the chance at a rare Texas two-step on the PGA Tour.

Playing periodic rain showers, Verplank had five birdies in 13 holes on Saturday before the third round of the soaked Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial was suspended by impending darkness and more rain.

Verplank to 9 under for a share of the lead with Rory Sabbatini, Pat Perez, Kevin Na, Arron Oberholser and Ben Curtis. Sabbatini had seven birdies and a bogey through 12 holes.

Last month in nearby Irving, Verplank had an emotional victory at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, marking the Texan's first tour win since 2001.

The only person to win the Nelson and Colonial in the same year was Ben Hogan in 1946, the first Colonial.

Tim Clark, the 36-hole leader, drove his first tee shot into a bunker after not missing any fairways in the second round.

He managed to save par on the par-5 opener, but bogeyed three of the next four holes to fall to 8 under.

Curtis the lead when PGA Tour officials suspended play, but players had the option of finishing the hole they were playing.

Curtis a tap-in bogey on the 360m sixth hole after missing a 4m par putt.

Clark, Oberholser and Curtis were the last players to tee off on Saturday and still had 12 holes to play yesterday before the fourth round could begin.

None the 70 players who made the 36-hole cut completed their third rounds. Everybody had at least three more holes.

Things been out of whack since Thursday, when an afternoon thunderstorm flooded the course and play never resumed for half of the original 114-player field.

The second round was finally completed and the 36-hole cut made on Saturday afternoon when 24 players managed to finish after the scheduled resumption was delayed five hours by yet more rain.

The 42-year-old Verplank, who grew up in Dallas, had always wanted to win the Nelson and finally did on his 21st try, the first one after Lord Byron died.

Verplank to know Nelson as a teenager and played several rounds of golf with him.

Nelson also wrote notes encouraging Verplank about his play.

Besides Hogan, only 12 players have won both Dallas-Fort Worth events, but none have done it in the same year.