Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial 2007

South Africa's Rory Sabbatini sloshed his way to a share of the lead at the Colonial Invitational on Saturday before third round play was suspended at the rain-hit tournament.

With no player able to card a complete third round score due to fading light and the threat of more rain, Sabbatini ended the day tied for the lead with Scott Verplank, Pat Perez, Arron Oberholser, Ben Curtis and Kevin Na at nine under par.

Sabbatini's compatriot Tim Clark, the leader after the second round, was in a group of five players including Jim Furyk a shot further back on eight under.

"It's like Groundhog Day out there, this thing will never end," said Sabbatini, who managed to play 12 holes of his third round.

With more rain forecast for Sunday and Monday, Tour officials hope to re-start the third round early on Sunday, finish around midday and start the final round thereafter.

"It was on the verge of unplayable today," said tournament director Mark Russell.

"It we get any more rain, we're in real trouble here."

Sabbatini made the best of Saturday's brief third round, going six-under-par in his 12 holes and putting himself on pace to challenge the course record of 61.

"I didn't have any plans for Monday, just go to lake, and it looks like the lake may be coming to me," Sabbatini said.

"I just have to come out Sunday and try to keep it going."

Starting on the 10th hole, he came out firing with birdies on four of his first five holes before a bogey on the 15th.

He rebounded with birdies on 16 and 17 to record a 30 on his first nine holes. He birdied the second hole and parred the third before the horn was sounded to end play for the day.

American Verplank is attempting to become the first golfer since Ben Hogan in 1946 to win both the Dallas and Fort Worth PGA Tour events in the same year after winning the Byron Nelson event three weeks ago.

"We still have a long way to go and I have to make a lot of birdies, but you never know," he said.