Hot Coles burns bright in Portugal

Robert Coles made headway in the third round of the Portuguese Open at Le Meridien Penina Golf and Resort.

Having just made the cut at level par 144, the 33-year-old got off to a bright start.

Coles picked up three shots on the front nine to go out in 32 and surge up the field.

He chalked up birdies at the fourth, fifth and eighth to boost his confidence.

Coles then picked up another shot at the par-five 11th to go to four under for the tournament.

Having finished 89th on the 2005 Order of Merit, Cole has had a wretched time this season.

He came into this tournament on the back of a dreadful run that saw him miss seven successive halfway cuts.

Defending champion and overnight leader Paul Broadhurst, on an 11-under total of 133, is out later.

Broadhurst holds a two-shot lead over Christian Cevaer of France with Swedish rookie Christian Nilsson on eight under.

Paul Lawrie, Gary Clark, Steven O’Hara and Anthony Wall are among the group one shot further back.