CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ It appears that the Wells Fargo Championship, plagued by two lengthy weather delays Saturday, is going to get a memorable final round.
Three players _ Jason Dufner, Joel Dahmen and Max Homa _ share the third-round lead at 11-under par, with several more in contention just a shot or two behind.
It took the leaders until nearly dark to finish their rounds at Quail Hollow Club, after play had been suspended twice earlier for a total of more than two hours due to severe weather.
None of the three leaders played exceptionally well Saturday, at least not by the standards they set Thursday and Friday. Homa surrendered sole possession of the lead when he bogeyed the 18th hole for a 1-under 70. Dufner, the second-round leader, had back-to-back bogeys late in his round. Two later birdies allowed him to finish at even-par 71. And Dahmen survived a potentially crippling double bogey on the par-4 sixth hole for a 70.
But they had enough of a cushion to start the day to fend off the likes of Pat Perez, who shot a 5-under 66 and is a stroke back at 10-under. Then there's two-time Wells Fargo winner Rory McIlroy alone in fifth at 9-under after a 3-under 68. Justin Rose also shot 68 and is another stroke back at 8-under.
The first weather delay lasted 1 hour 11 minutes, from 3:37 p.m. to 4:48. When another set of storms moved in about 30 minutes later, play was stopped and the course evacuated. Play resumed at 6:24 p.m. after a 1-hour, 6-minute delay.
So, the final-round contenders are a good mix of young players who haven't been in this position before (Homa and Dahmen) to go against established stars who have multiple career victories and a few major championships among them (Dufner, McIlroy and Rose).
"All you can ask for is a chance," Homa said.
