Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Trey Mullinax, Scott Stallings share lead after Round 3

Alexis Mansanarez

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Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Trey Mullinax, Scott Stallings share lead after Round 3 image

The field was eventually whittled down to 39 teams Saturday after a seven-plus hour delay pushed the second round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans into the weekend.

Once the cut was set at 8 under, the third round began and ended on the same day. 

With the tournament finally back on track, the team of Trey Mullinax and Scott Stallings is back atop the leaderboard.

But, they are not alone.

The pair had the advantage after a shortened first round Thursday but were edged out by the field after Round 2. They fired off eight birdies Saturday, including three in their first five holes, and Mullinax carded the team's only eagle to move back into first place (23 under). 

They are joined by Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer who used nine birdies to edge out the field and share the lead heading into the final round. The team was close to taking sole possession of first place, but Palmer ended the round with a bogey on the par-3 17th hole. 

Rahm and Palmer knocked a streaking team of Branden Grace and Justin Harding into third place (22 under).

The two South African professionals finished with the best round of the day (11-under 61) with birdies on nearly every single hole on the back nine. The group made the turn after carding five birdies in their last six to open the round and continued the trend well into the day.

Their only hiccup came on the 17th hole where Grace bogeyed the par 3.  

Also in contention is the team of Brian Gay and Rory Sabbatini, who sit in a tie for fourth place (20 under) with Peter Malnati and Billy Hurley III. 

Sergio Garcia and Tommy Fleetwood highlight the teams in a six-way tie for sixth place (19 under) and the Koepka brothers, Brooks and Chase, follow closely behind in tie for 12th (18 under).

The team of Henrik Stenson and Graeme McDowell join the Koepkas just outside the top 10 and despite falling five places down the leaderboard, they provided a hilarious highlight.

After McDowell eagled the par-4 16th hole from 89 yards out, he sat in a spectator's chair and pretended to drink out of his cup.

The final round will begin 10:15 a.m. ET on Sunday.

 

Alexis Mansanarez