Joburg Open 2007

Play at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club was halted due to lightning just after 1400 local (1200 GMT), with the final group about to make the turn, and was eventually called off for the day.

Canete completed his first nine holes without a dropped shot and three birdies in the last four holes saw him catch and then overtake second-round leaders Hennie Otto, James Kingston and Jakobus Roos.

The 31-year-old Argentine, who is on 12-under-par, said he was well-served by his putter on the demanding East course that is being used for the last two rounds after sharing centre stage with the easier West course on the first two days.

"The start is not the easiest part of this course and the first three or four holes are very important," he told reporters.

"But my putter was working very well and I was a bit more relaxed towards the end and played better. I am pleased to be in a better position than when I started."

Johannesburg-based Andrew McLardy, whose 63 on the first day is the low round of the tournament, also picked up three strokes on the front nine and is one stroke behind Canete and tied with Otto on 11-under.

Otto, who also lives in Johannesburg, is the only one of the overnight leaders to maintain a position near the top of the leaderboard, with Kingston four-over through eight holes on Saturday and Roos five-over-par.

"I've played here so often so I know being even-par through eight holes is not bad on this East course. Today was just about protecting your score, but maybe I can do something on the back nine when we resume the round," Otto said.

The third round will be completed on Sunday morning, with the golfers returning to their balls at 6.45am, and the same draw will be used for the final round, with the last group out at 11.35am.

Italian Edoardo Molinari, the second-placed golfer after the first round, is on 10-under-par with seven holes left of his third round, while the group on nine-under-par includes German Sven Struver and Frenchman Jean Gonnet.

The event is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine and European tours.