Golf
Associated Press 8y

Roberto Castro in lead at Sanderson Farms as darkness halts play

JACKSON, Miss. -- Roberto Castro finished just six holes Sunday at a soggy Sanderson Farms Championship.

The way things were going, that wasn't such a bad thing.

Castro clung to a one-stroke lead at the Country Club of Jackson after playing the first six holes in the suspended third round in 2-over par.

He'll have to navigate 30 holes Monday to win for the first time on the PGA Tour in more than 100 career starts. He'll have about a 30-foot putt for birdie on No. 7 when play resumes.

Play was suspended Sunday because of darkness and will resume Monday morning with the final round following immediately. Castro said he was prepared for the grind.

"Just grab your lunch at the turn and keep going," the 30-year-old Castro said. "If you get on a good run, just ride it as long as you can."

It's been a soggy, stop-and-start tournament that has required plenty of patience. Several players had their second rounds stretch over three days from Friday to Sunday as rain swept through the area.

Castro was at 13 under. He started play Sunday with a four-stroke lead, but quickly fell back toward the pack with bogeys on Nos. 3 and 4. They were his first two bogeys of the tournament.

"I just hit two poor shots and paid for both of them," Castro said.

Former tournament champion D.J. Trahan and Michael Thompson were a shot back. Boo Weekley, Patrick Rodgers and Jhonattan Vegas were among seven players two shots back.

The 42-year-old Weekley, a three-time winner on tour, said he wasn't concerned about the long Monday ahead.

"You just get after it, do the best you can, chase it around out there and hope you come out a winner," Weekley said.

The 23-year-old Rodgers shot a 64 in the second round to jump into contention. He was 1 under through seven holes in the third round.

"I was a little up and down today. I wasn't my best," Rodgers said. "But I feel good with the way I'm striking it."

Castro had his best round on the PGA Tour on Thursday, firing a 10-under 62 to take a two-stroke lead. He pushed that lead to four strokes after shooting a 67 on Friday.

But he didn't play at all on Saturday because of the rain and struggled almost immediately on Sunday. He said course conditions had changed some because of a big drop in temperature and a little more wind.

Still, he was encouraged by his par on No. 6 just before darkness ended the round.

"A lot of golf to play tomorrow," Castro said.

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