Frenchman Gregory Havret and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell face a shoot out over the closing holes on Monday morning after moving into a share of the lead on 18 under par when darkness brought an end Sunday’s play at the 61st Telecom Italia Open at Castello di Tolcinasco Golf and Country Club.
Havret, the 2001 Telecom Italia Champion, dramatically chipped in for an eagle three on the 15th hole to move to 18 under par and snatch the lead only for McDowell to hole from eight feet for birdie on the par three 14th to join him on that mark just moments after the klaxon sounded to suspend play. Another Frenchman Thomas Levet is also very much in the thick of things on 17 under par through 14 holes, as is Argentina’s Angel Cabrera on 15 under par with four holes remaining.
Following the weather disruptions earlier in the week, the tournament had been reduced to 54 holes but efforts to play the third and final round were once again hit by the weather as an afternoon thunderstorm, which caused a three hour suspension, ended all hopes of a Sunday finish.
The final round will now be completed on Monday morning, starting at 7.30 am local time (5.30 am GMT). Six matches have still to finish their rounds. It will be the first Monday finish on The European Tour International Schedule since the 2001 dunhill links championship.
McDowell, bidding to win his second European Tour title following his victory in the 2002 Scandinavian Masters in what was only his fourth event, picked up four birdies in an outward half of 32, the suspension interrupting his progress as he stood on the ninth green.
Returning to the course, McDowell, added a fifth birdie on the par five 12th hole and another on the 14th to remain at the top of the leaderboard with four holes to play tomorrow.
Havret briefly took the lead with a stunning run of eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie around the turn, but dropped a shot on the 13th to fall behind before his stunning finish to the day took him to seven under par through 16 holes and back to the top of proceedings. He will return to the course at 7.30am with two holes to play as he looks to win the title for the second time following his triumph at Is Molas in his rookie season.
Levet is a further shot back on 17 under having picked up six birdies, including one on his final hole, the par three 14th, with just one dropped shot, to remain very much in the hunt as he chases his third European Tour title.
Overnight leader Cabrera, playing his first event in Europe of the season, picked up two shots in an outward half of 34 but dropped a shot on the par five 12th to fall three shots off the pace on 15 under par.
The leaders in the clubhouse are 2002 Volvo PGA Champion Anders Hansen of Denmark, who dropped just the one shot in his six under par 66, and South African Charl Schwartzel (67) who lie on 13 under par 203.
