Scotland’s Knox had held the outright lead until Northern Irishman McDowell birdied the 13th, the last hole he played before the suspension, to join him at six under for the round.

That left them two shots clear of Jason Bohn, two under for the day after 12, with Scott Brown and overnight leader Derek Fathauer a further two shots back in a share of fourth.

McDowell looked to have missed his chance here with a third round of 70, but began his recovery with three birdies in a row between the fifth and seventh to make the turn in 33.

He picked up further shots on the 10th, 12th and 13th to move level with Knox, who had four straight birdies between the third and sixth, made the turn in 31 and then birdied the 11th to go clear. He played one more hole before the stoppage.

Bohn had eagled the par-five fifth but then immediately dropped a shot before birdies on the seventh and eighth. However, he bogeyed the 12th to lose ground before darkness fell.

Fathauer, seeking his first ever win, had held the overnight lead but the occasion perhaps got the better of him as he dropped shots on the first and 10th holes, with a sole birdie on the ninth.