SINGAPORE - Thailand took control of the SMBC Singapore Open on Saturday (Jan 20) as Chapchai Nirat and Danthai Boonma edged clear of the field as inclement weather halted play prematurely for the third straight day at the Sentosa Golf Club.

Both Chapchai and Danthai were nine-under overall for the tournament. The former had completed nine holes while the latter had three unfinished holes of his third round at the Serapong Course.

They were two shots clear of a group of seven golfers at seven-under that included their compatriot Jazz Janewattananond as well as Masters champion Sergio Garcia, Ryo Ishikawa, Gavin Green, Casey O'Toole, Shaun Norris and Danny Masrin. All have yet to complete their rounds.

"Today I putted very well except for the bogey on the sixth hole. I just tried to focus on my plan and on the process and just kept it fun, that's it," said the 21-year-old Danthai, a double gold-medallist at the 2013 SEA Games.

Danthai added that the continuous rain delays and disruptions so far at the US$1 million (S$1.3 million) tournament had affected him somewhat, even if his blistering play did not reflect it.

"I am a little bit tired, because this morning I played 13 holes (for the second round) and then another 16 holes in the third round," said Danthai, whose lone Asian Tour win came in Singapore in 2015 at the World Classic Championship.

Only six of the 68 golfers who survived the cut had finished their rounds when play was suspended at 6.20pm with raindrops spattering onto the Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong course.

For the Singaporeans, Choo Tze Huang and Gregory Foo are both on four-under after 15 and 14 holes respectively, while amateur Jesse Yap was one of the few who will enjoy a later start on Sunday, signing for a one-over 73 and a three-day total of even-par 213 (68-72-73).

Play will resume on Sunday at 7.40am, with the final round slated to begin at 8.40am.