Dredge moves into contention in Madeira

Birdies at the 14th and 16th holes lifted Welshman Bradley Dredge into a share of third place after strong winds delayed the Madeira Islands Open for two and a half hours today.

Favourite for the title and needing to win to move back into the world’s top 50 a week before the cut-off for the Masters, Dredge managed only one hole of his second round before play was suspended.

On the resumption at 11.45am, the former World Cup winner improved to four-under-par, only two behind German Sven Struver, along with Scot Alastair Forsyth after an eventful first seven holes.

Forsyth birdied the 10th and eagled the next, bogeyed the 13th and 14th, then grabbed another birdie at the 15th.

One of the day’s late starters, Struver was almost certain to see his round spill into Saturday.

South African Hennie Otto, one behind and alone in second overnight, remained five-under after six holes while Dredge’s compatriot Stephen Dodd remained three over after seven holes and just outside the halfway cut mark.