Pedro Linhart and Diego Borrego of Spain take a firm grip of the Madeira Island Open after a stop-start second day at Santo da Serra.
Linhart fired a best-of-the-week 64, eight under par, to move into a commanding four stroke lead over Borrego on 134, ten under par, with half of the field still to complete their second round.
For the second day in a row, inclement weather forced a suspension of play - this time early in the morning - and that missing two hours meant that the second round will be completed on Saturday morning with the third following on Saturday afternoon.
However the cold and rain didn’t affect Linhart, born of American parents in Las Palmas and now a Spanish citizen.
He played ten holes to finish his first round in the morning, completing the card with two birdies and a par for a 70. Linhart then went back out and shot his 64 with eight birdies and no bogeys to open up a commanding lead.
Linhart came home in 30 blows to move clear of his Marbella neighbour and prctice partner, Borrego, who covered the last seven holes in five under par for a round of 67 and two round total of 138.
Five of Linhart’s birdies came as the result of unerringly accurate shots with his nine iron and he joked: "I will keep trying to leave myself nine iron shots tomorrow! Every time I had that club in my hand I seemed to knock the ball right down the stick."
Borrego, winner of the 1997 Turespana Masters, finished four behind Linhart and two ahead of a large group on four under par, some of whom completed their second rounds and other who must return to start again in the morning.
John Bickerton of England, currently fifth on the Volvo Order of Merit, shot rounds of 69 and 71 to move into contention yet again on 140. He admitted: "Playing in Florida over the winter helped. I was fed up getting home and putting the clubs away for the winter.
"I went to Florida for seven weeks, won five out of ten events and paid for my expenses and the amusements at Disney World as well! I’m not thinking of Ryder Cup or Order of Merit just yet. I will concentrate on one shot at a time."
Also on 140 is Retief Goosen of South Africa, just recovered from a broken arm and beginning to find form again. He shot a 69 in the second round to join Bickerton and Dubai Desert Classic winner David Howell on that mark.
