Little moving closer to first European triumph

Left-hander Stuart Little moved closer to a first European tour title at the Abama Canaries Open in Tenerife today.

Joint leader with South African Michael Kirk at halfway the 38-year-old, who made his tour debut 18 years ago and has been to the qualifying school 10 times, birdied the second and fifth to reach nine under par.

He was one ahead of fellow Englishman John Bickerton and three clear of Kirk and New Zealander Stephen Scahill before play was held up by a thunderstorm with seven holes of the third round remaining.

All four have yet to win on the circuit, but Little is 74th on this year’s Order of Merit and enjoying the best season of his career.

That said, he has yet to finish higher than sixth in any tournament and only six years ago fell off the tour and doubted if he would come back.

“I had a spell in the mid-90s when I walked away from the touring side,” said the Gloucestershire-based player.

“If someone had said in August 1999 that I would be playing the tour again in 2000 I would have laughed at them.”

Bickerton has had no fewer than five second places, but is 118th on the money list and battling to avoid a return to the qualifying school.

Former Ryder Cup star Peter Baker, who will be one of Ian Woosnam’s assistants at the K Club near Dublin next September, was six under after a 15-foot putt on the opening green, but then dropped four shots in as many holes.

Baker lost his tour card last year and has had to rely mostly on invitations this season. He stands 166th on the Order of Merit and needs to win tomorrow to regain his place on the circuit.

Mark Roe, 117th on the Order of Merit and playing his 500th tour event, turned at five under, but three-putted the long 10th for a bogey six as the heavy rain arrived.

German Kariem Baraka, nephew of double Masters champion Bernhard Langer, closed to two behind Little with an outward 32 and then a birdie at the 10th, but a double-bogey six came at the 13th.