The 26-year-old American shot an eight-under-par 64 to head into the final round at Madison, Mississippi on 18 under and on top of a crowded leaderboard.

Four players — South Korean Kang Sung-hoon, Australia’s Peter Lonard and American duo George McNeill and former Viking Classic champion DJ Trahan — were tied for second at 17-under on a day when 24 players finished within five shots of the leader.

The heavy rain which interrupted the first two days softened the greens at Annandale Golf Club and made ideal conditions for low scoring even though most players had a busy day and had to complete their second rounds before starting their third.

Jim Renner, another PGA Tour rookie, shot a 62, the low round of the day, to be tied for fifth with fellow Americans Tom Pernice and second round co-leader Hunter Haas.

Kang played the first 14 holes of his third round in eight-under par, including an eagle on the 579-yard par-5 11th hole, to take the outright lead.

But he made a bogey on the par-4 17th then drove his tee shot into the water on the par-5 18th and could only manage a par while Kirk made a birdie to leapfrog to the top of the leaderboard.