Paul Azinger stood at 11-under par with four holes remaining when darkness halted third-round play at the rain-interrupted $4.1 million PGA Memorial tournament in Dublin, Ohio.
Two-time defending champion Tiger Woods, Spain's Sergio Garcia and Australia's Stuart Appleby all shared second, two strokes back at nine-under par, when play was halted.
Rain delayed the start of play before leaders took to the tees in late afternoon and played until dusk settled over the Muirfield Village Golf Club. Azinger, who won here in 1993 and was fifth last year, was at eight-under for the tournament through five holes but began his charge as darkness approached, picking up three strokes over his last seven holes.
Woods and Garcia will resume play along with Azinger on the 15th hole. Appleby has only three holes to complete his third round. In all, 28 of 71 players failed to finish their third rounds.
Stewart Cink is the clubhouse leader at eight-under par 208 after a five-under par 67 in the third round.
Leading third-round scores (US unless stated; Par 72; 25 players still to complete round): 208 - S Cink 71 69 67; 210 - S Flesch 72 67 71, F Funk 71 68 71; 211 T Taniguchi (Jpn) 68 74 69, C Howell 73 68 70, G Chalmers (Aus) 72 68 71; 212 - D Paulson 68 74 70, B Tway 72 72 68, M Weir 72 69 71, K Perry 72 69 71, K Sutherland 69 72 71, J Cook 72 68 72, L Mattiace 72 67 73; 213 - J Sluman 67 73 73; 214 - G Nicklaus 72 72 70; 215 - G Willis 72 70 73, S Kendall 73 70 72, P Lonard 75 69 71, R Damron 74 71 70, S Maruyama (Jpn) 70 75 70; 216 - J Parnevik (Swe), J Kaye 71 71 74, M Brooks 72 72 72, B Faxon 70 71 75, M Calcavecchia 69 73 74, S Stricker 74 70 72, J Haas 68 76 72, J Daly 73 68 75.
