ROSE HALL, St James — Americans Hernan Borja and Harry Higgs were tied at 16 under par after three holes in the third round when play was suspended just after 5:00 pm on yesterday’s third day of the BMW Jamaica Classic being staged at the Cinnamon Hills course in Rose Hall.

A lot of playing time has been lost over the three days of the PGA LatinoAmerica tour event due mostly to play being suspended due to lightning in the area, and the organisers are to decide early today whether they can get all four rounds in or they will cut it to a 54-hole tournament.

Ironically there were more stoppages for rain last year, but they got all four rounds in with some players playing 30 holes on the final day.

Another American Michael Buttacavoli was in third place on 15 under par 133 after playing six holes in the third round followed by Norway’s Andreas Holvorsen, the first-round leader, on 14 under par 131 with four holes played in the third round with two players — Tyson Alexander and Derek Bard — both on 13 under par scores.

None of the three Jamaicans in the field made the cut, which was at five under par after the second round. Ian Facey shot a four over par 148, while amateurs Sean Morris was eight over 152 and Justin Borrowes was 15 over par 159.

Higgs, who has played his best and most consistent golf of the tour so far in this the fifth stop, had two birdies in his short third round, catching Borja, the Jamaica Golf Association Open champion who led after the interrupted second round.

Higgs was on two under par 130 through three holes when play was called after carding scores of eight under par 64 and six under 66.

Borja, who had a nine under 63 for the second round that was completed yesterday, after his opening six under 66 on Thursday, was one under for a 16 under 129 score.

Both men are promising a shoot-out on today’s final, whether they have to play just another 15 holes or 33 holes to complete the tournament.

Higgs, the former Southern Methodist University player, told reporters after his round yesterday that the persistent drizzle that started prior to the start of the third round forced some changes in strategy.

“It does slow you down a bit and you have to keep your hands dry and stay dry, but it’s the same golf course and you have to go after your shots,” he said.

Borja, who has played here three times in the last year after playing the BMW Classic last year, claimed “home advantage” and said knowledge of the conditions helped him as he was more relaxed.

“I am just trying to make birdies, but we have some excellent players out there and it is going to take a lot to win,” he said.

— Paul Reid