ROSE HALL, St James — American Jared Wolfe has opened up a six-shot lead early in the third round of the BMW Jamaica Classic, a PGA Latinoamerican tour event that will go into its final day at the Cinnamon Hills golf course in Rose Hall today.

Wolfe shot a second eight under par 64 for a two-round total of 16 under 128 and was one under par through three holes in the third round when play was called yesterday.

Mexico’s Jose de Jesus Rodriquez and American Carlos Sainz jr, who were playing in the group with Wolfe, were tied at second with 11 under par 134 each, while Michael McGowan and Nick Palladino were tied for fourth, one stroke back.

The four-round 72-hole tournament, which is being held in an English-speaking Caribbean territory for the first time, continues to be hampered by poor weather as continued rain and lightning caused more delays on yesterday’s third day.

The rain eventually eased as the third round was about to start, but conditions were still overcast.

As a result, the second round was completed only late yesterday and the just under 80 who made the cut of the 144 players, who started on Thursday, completed at most nine holes last evening before once against the round was suspended due to darkness.

The second round was eventually completed just after 3:15 pm yesterday and the third round got underway at 4:00 pm with the field split in two, and players teeing off from the first and 10th tees.

None of the Jamaican or Caribbean players managed to make the cut, which was at two under par. Jamaica’s Orville Christie was the best of the lot at three over par 147 with rounds of four over par 76 and a one under 71 yesterday.

Trinidad’s Jonathon Millen was seven over par 151 (76 and75), Jamaica’s Fabian Campbell finished with 10 over par 154, amateur Sean Morris was 11 over par 155, amateur Jonathon Newnham finished with 18 over par 162, amateur Sebert Walker Jr was 22 over par 166 and Zandre Roye was 26 over par 170.

Wolfe had one blemish on his scorecard yesterday, a bogey on the par five 11th when he shot a six, but his nine birdies — four on the front nine and five more on his way in — made up for the shot he lost.

For the second round he finished with panache, birdying the last three holes to play the back nine on four under par 31.

He picked up where he left off at the start of the third by birdying the par five first hole after just missing an eagle putt by inches.

Rodriquez and Sainz Jr also birded the first hole of the third round to stay in contention for a top three finish today.