Australian Brett Rumford shrugged off a four-hour rain delay to card a third round 68 for an 11-under par total of 202 to maintain control of the St Omer Open on Saturday.

Rumford goes into Sunday's final round defending a three shot lead from England's Ben Mason, who was in sparkling form shooting a six under par 66, the best round of the day, and Garry Houston of Wales.

Ten minutes after play got underway a heavy thunderstorm accompanied by torrential rain forced the northern French course to temporarily shut up shop.

But the long wait failed to disturb Rumford who has been in the driving seat ever since breaking the course record with a 64 on Thursday.

The 25-year-old, who was four clear with two holes remaining but then three putted the 17th, preferred not to dwell on the last time he went into the final day in the lead.

That was in the Ericsson Masters in Melbourne in 2001 when he had a three shot advantage only to lose out ultimately to Colin Montgomerie.

"Previous performances are irrelevant," he insisted.

"It's a different course, different competition, different country. Everything's different."

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