MADEIRA, Portugal, March 23 (UPI) -- Spain's Ivo Giner and Maarten Lafeber of the Netherlands battled bad weather Saturday but managed to grab a share of the lead when play was suspended because of fog in the third round of the Madeira Island Open.
Giner and Lafeber were both at 8-under and both had two holes to play when the action was halted.
Giner was in the midst of a big round that included five birdies while Lafeber had posted four birdies before a bogey at No. 15 cost him sole possession of the lead.
England's Paul Dwyer, Ireland's Philip Walton, Italy's Massimo Florioli and Volvo PGA champion Andrew Oldcorn were all one shot back.
Walton had seven birdies and a bogey Saturday while Oldcorn was banking on a solid finish to guarantee a spot in next month's Seve Trophy competition. Florioli blew a lead here last year and finished third.
"The Seve Trophy is now in the forefront of my mind," Oldcorn said. "Whatever happens in this tournament I know that I have the chance."
Players left on the course will complete their rounds early Sunday morning with final-round pairings to tee off later in the day. First-round leader Olivier David of France was tied for 21st at 1-under. Seve Ballesteros, who carded an opening-round 70 but a 76 on Friday, shot 78 on Saturday and was tied for 74th among the 77 golfers remaining.
