KUALA LUMPUR: Inclement weather continues to wreak havoc at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) UMW Championship as play was abandoned for the third consecutive day at the TPC Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

The penultimate round of the RM200,000 (approx. US$44,600) Asian Development Tour (ADT) co-sanctioned event was suspended at 4.00pm local time before officials decided to call it a day two hours later due to persistent rain.

All 51 players will return to the TPC Kuala Lumpur’s East Course at 7.30am on Saturday to resume their rounds. The all-important final round is scheduled to start not earlier than 8.30am. Players will remain in the same groupings as the third round for the final 18 holes.

Round one co-leader Nicholas Fung  returned in the morning to sign for a three-under-par 68, grabbing a share of the halfway lead with countryman Shariffuddin Ariffin, who carded a solid 66, on eight-under-par 134 total.

Malaysia’s number one Gavin Kyle Green, who also returned to complete his second round in the morning, posted a brilliant 65 to trail the leading duo by one shot alongside Japan’s Masaru Takahashi, who recorded a 68.

At the point of suspension, Green has moved to 10-under-par following three birdies through nine holes while Fung, Shariffuddin and Masaru all trail by two shots on eight-under-par after eight. England’s Steve Lewton has also moved to eight-under-par through 10.

“It has been good. I have been really positive and I have been giving myself a lot of looks on the greens. I made some putts today so that’s huge for me,” said the 23-year-old Green.

“I am still working on some stuff as swing goes. But other than that, I am enjoying the game and I will try to give myself as many looks as possible,” added the three-time ADT winner.

Korean-American Sihwan Kim, who recorded a stunning second round 62 on Thursday, had withdrawn from the tournament after feeling unwell on Friday morning.