Golf: Gilford grabs share of lead in Algarve Open

Former Ryder Cup player David Gilford and Sweden's Carl Pettersson share the lead going into the final round of the Algarve Open de Portugal.

No play was possible in the third round yesterday afternoon as high winds again caused balls to move on several greens beside the Atlantic Ocean.

And with the weather forecast predicting more of the same today, tournament director Mikael Eriksson was left with no choice but to reduce the event to 54 holes.

Gilford had earlier carded a second round 72 for a two-under-par total of 142, one of only five players in the 156-strong field under par at halfway.

Pettersson's six-shot overnight lead had not lasted long after he resumed with a double-bogey six on the seventh after topping a fairway wood only two yards, six more dropped shots and two birdies adding up to a second round 76.

The halfway cut fell at nine-over-par, the highest by two shots on the European Tour this year, and the highest since the Open championship at Carnoustie in 1999 which fell at 12-over.