Jesus Maria Arruti leads the Madeira Island Open by one stroke at the halfway stage after completing a two over par 74 when the second round resumed this morning at a sun-kissed Santo da Serra.
Arruti leads Fredrick Andersson, pre-tournament favourite Bradley Dredge, Andrew Marshall and Henrik Stenson by one shot.
Dredge enjoyed his most consistent season to date in 2002, recording a runners-up finish in the Smurfit European Open, a third place finish and seven top tens on his way to 18th in the Volvo Order of Merit. His consistency was rewarded with a climb to 72nd in the World Ranking but the 29 year old Welshman has yet to record his maiden victory.
Stenson is the only previous winner among the leading players having captured the 2001 Benson and Hedges International Open at The De Vere Belfry but it was fellow Swede Andersson who made the most of the benign conditions this morning, shooting a four under par 68 to lie one shot of the pace.
Former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst, 1999 Alrgave Open de Portugal Champion Van Phillips and Italy's Marcello Santi are two shots off the pace.
After the strong winds of Friday made for testing conditions, the cut fell at eight over par 152, the highest of the season, with Seve Ballesteros among those who found himself unexpectedly competing in the last two rounds.
