Chris Paisley made three birdies in five holes to maintain his one-shot lead as round two of the weather-affected Italian Open resumed on Saturday morning.
After nearly five hours was lost on day one due to torrential rain and the threat of thunder storms, similar conditions on Friday afternoon brought an end to proceedings at 1536, with half the field yet to begin their second rounds.
Clear skies and a softened course at Golf Club Milano produced excellent scoring conditions early on day three and Paisley took advantage to move to 13 under with a 63, although he could not increase his lead over Danny Willett who made three birdies of his own to complete a 64.
A third Englishman - Chris Hanson - also picked up three shots in the morning in a 65 to sit at 11 under, a shot ahead Robert Karlsson who made a flying start in his second round.
Paisley's first shot of the day was an eagle putt on the 14th and while he could not roll that in, he made his birdie before adding another on the next and, when he also birdied the 17th, he had six in eight holes as part of his blemish-free week so far.
Masters champion Willett is finalising his preparations for the Ryder Cup at the end of the month and he also began with a birdie on the fifth before adding two more on the eighth and ninth.
Hanson had six holes to complete upon the resumption and he eagled the 14th for the second day in a row before adding a birdie on the 17th.
Swede Karlsson made a birdie-birdie-birdie start and added further gains at the fifth and sixth to sit at ten under, with Nacho Elvira a shot further back in the clubhouse after making three birdies on the back nine in the morning.
Australia's Richard Green had been one of just four players to complete their second rounds on Friday and he was eight under alongside England's David Horsey, who turned in 32, and defending champion Rikard Karlberg who had played five holes.
Scot Jamie McLeary was one of the players yet to begin his second round but he made the perfect start when he did, holing his 194-yard tee-shot on the tenth with a five iron for the 35th hole-in-one of the season.
He was in the group at seven under alongside Alexander Levy, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Byeong-hun An and Felipe Aguilar, who had all completed their second rounds.
Alejandro Cañizares was also seven under after eight holes of his second circuit.
