Alexander Levy will take a three shot lead into the final round of the Portugal Masters after the chasing pack failed to close the gap on the overnight leader on day three.
Levy was one of only six players to complete their second rounds on Friday after thunderstorms and heavy rain severely disrupted play, forcing the tournament to be reduced to 54 holes, and a brilliant 61 ensured he had already set a testing clubhouse score at 18 under.
Big-hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, who had a putt for The European Tour’s first 59 in his opening 60 on Thursday, was three behind the Frenchman overnight with two holes to try and reduce the deficit.
But pars at the eighth and ninth ensured he posted a 67 and remained second on 15 under, with Chile’s Felipe Aguilar alone in third on 13 under and the rest of the chasing pack at least seven shots back – although that was the deficit David Lynn overcame in the final round last year to win at Oceånico Victoria Golf Club.
“It’s always difficult to follow a really low score, but I’m quite happy with the way I played on the back nine coming in,” said Colsaerts.
“I got to the golf course yesterday at 7am and left at 7.30pm, so it was a pretty long day. Luckily I’m staying on site so you have the option of going back to the room. I didn’t really do that too much yesterday though.
“I’ll probably make up for yesterday and spend all day in my room. I’ll maybe practise a little bit later on and just keep loose. Most of the day will be spent nice and cosy and relaxing.
“As I showed yesterday and today, if you get off rhythm a little bit and you don’t fully take advantage of the course, others will make up ground. Sunday will unfold and we will see what happens.”
Aguilar, who holed his approach at the 72nd hole to win The Championship at Laguna National earlier this year, made a birdie putt from the fringe at the 18th to turn in 31 and then birdied the first from 15 feet, converted from twice that distance at the third and knocked in another 15 footer at the fourth.
The threat of lightning then forced another suspension, and when play resumed Aguilar could only play his closing five holes in one over for a 64.
Richard Bland, Morten Ørum Madsen and Romain Wattel are tied for fourth and will be hoping to replicate Lynn’s effort 12 months ago when the third and final round begins on Sunday.
“It’s fantastic what Alex has done – 18 under after two rounds is amazing golf so well done to him,” said Madsen.
“I’m just going to go out tomorrow and try to shoot as low a score as possible and see if that gets close. It depends on what he does – if he plays the way he has done the first two days, we’re playing for second place. All I can do is try to play my best and see what happens.”
