South African Hennie Otto will take a four shot lead into the third round of the Madeira Islands Open BPI – Portugal at Santo da Serra.
The 31 year old carded two superb opening rounds of 67 for a ten under par total of 134 – an aggregate made all the more remarkable considering the fact that he compiled the rounds in the worst of the weather over the tournament’s first two days.
The high winds meant the second round could not be competed on Friday night and two of the players who had to return to finish off on Saturday morning – Sweden’s Fredrik Widmark and Sven Strüver of Germany – took advantage of the more benign conditions to move into closest contention.
Both players ended the morning on six under par 138, Widmark carding a second round 70 while Strüver posted a 72.
The Swede’s prominence was even more impressive considering his challenge looked to have taken a backward step when a poor drive into the bushes led to a double-bogey six at the tenth. But he recovered admirably with birdies at the 11th, 13th and 16th on his way home.
Strüver returned with nine holes to play and ended at precisely the same six under par total he started, after recording regulation par figures at each of the holes on the back nine.
Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera – another player to return on Saturday morning – shared fourth place with Brazilian Adilson Da Silva on five under par 139 while Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth and Miles Tunnicliff of England completed the top seven moving into the third round at four under par 140.
