Ivo Giner and Maarten Lafeber lead the Madeira Island Open after the completion of the third round despite both dropping shots on the final hole.
Giner and Lafeber are tied at the top on seven under par 209, a shot ahead of Massimo Florioli and Paul Dwyer who also bogeyed the last. In fact, of the 21 players who returned to the course at 8am to complete their third rounds after fog caused yesterday’s suspension, only two players were able to par the 382 yard 18th as strong winds buffeted the Santo da Serra course.
Andrew Oldcorn’s hopes of qualifying for a place in the Great Britain and Ireland team, which takes on Continental Europe in next month’s Seve Trophy, suffered a set-back as he double bogeyed the 15th and dropped two further shots on the 16th and 18th to finish on three under par.
Another European Tour winner Phillip Walton also dropped shots with a double bogey on the last to finish two shots off the pace with one round to play.
Didier de Vooght, having survived only his second cut of the season since getting his European Tour card at the Qualifying School Finals last November, produced the most consistent back nine of the leading players by parring in after two birdies at the tenth and 11th holes to finish on five under par 211.
John Bickerton, last year’s runner-up is also in the group on five under par along with Scotland’s David Drysdale, another Qualifying School graduate.
