Alexander Levy shot six birdies in his first ten holes to overtake runaway leader Nicolas Colsaerts before heavy rain meant play was suspended midway through their second round at the Portugal Masters.
Colsaerts on Thursday was inches from carding The European Tour’s first 59 as his 18-foot birdie putt slid by the 18th hole.
That put the Belgian, ranked 85th on The Race to Dubai, three shots ahead of his nearest challengers although some players were to complete their first rounds on Friday due to a torrential downpour the previous evening.
More rain delayed proceedings on the second morning, but once play began Levy flew out of the traps on the back nine.
The Frenchman, 28th on The Race to Dubai, carded three consecutive birdies from the 13th hole, including with two brilliant approach shots that almost found the hole.
Colsaerts also started on the tenth and made two gains to sit on 13 under alongside Levy who then recorded his sixth birdie, on the first, as the rain returned at the Oceånico Victoria Golf Club.
The next nearest challenger was Spain’s Adrian Otaegui, who completed his first round on the second morning and then began his second, four shots behind Colsaerts on nine under.
The rain eventually passed, giving way to sunny skies, with play intended to resume at 17.15 local time. However, parts of the course took longer than expected to drain so the restart was put back to 17.45.
