“Due to the extremely poor weather forecast for the next two days it has been decided that the best chance of completing the third round is to schedule a shotgun start from 8am on Saturday”, said a statement from the European Tour.
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With an Atlantic storm rolling in, the third round of the Portugal Masters enjoyed a “shotgun” start early Saturday morning.
Colsaerts hit two eagles and four birdies, and could have improved on his clubhouse score had he not dropped one shot. The lead players will go off the first tee at Oceanico Victoria Golf Club, with each of the 18 holes having a threesome or foursome on it. Officials have also decided not to cut the putting surfaces, so as to accommodate potential 30-40 miles per hour winds.
“It’s always nice to back up a good score with a new one”, Sullivan said.
“Sometimes it’s quite tough to go out there and back it up after shooting a low one yesterday but I played much in the same vein as I did yesterday”.
It was the 28-year-old Sullivan’s third European Tour win after victories at the South African Open and the Joburg Open earlier this year. The world number 233 chipped in for another eagle on the fifth before an errant drive on the seventh cost him his only bogey of the day.
Spaniard Eduardo De La Riva bounced back from three front-nine bogeys to reel off five birdies in eight holes as he lies on 10-under along with Austria’s in-form Bernd Wiesberger.
There was then a large group at seven under including the retiring Anders Hansen and joint overnight leader Nicolas Colasaerts who recorded six birdies – three of them in a row from the 15th – three bogeys and a triple in a remarkable level par 71.
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Defending champion Alexander Levy has work to do if he is to retain the title he won past year after a one-over 73 that left him eight shots back.
