England’s Jamie Spence holds a one stroke lead over Australian Brad Kennedy in the Madeira Island Open after picking up a shot over the closing holes of the delayed second round.
With a swirling wind replacing the rain and low cloud of the previous afternoon at Santo da Serra, those players still to complete their second rounds returned to the course at 8am to resume play.
Spence, who took over as chairman of The European Tour Tournament Committee from Mark James at the end of last year, birdied his first two holes of the day to get off to the ideal start. An eight iron to a couple of feet on the 14th, followed by an even more impressive three iron on the next hole to a similar distance helped elevate Spence to the top of the leaderboard. Despite dropping a shot on the last for a second round 67 and 11 under par total of 133, it was a position he maintained as Kennedy dropped successive shots on the last two holes.
Spence has won twice on The European Tour International Schedule, capturing the 1992 Canon European Masters and the 2000 Moroccan Open Meditel. His unbroken run on The European Tour dating back to 1989 looked in danger of coming to an end last season until he finished joint third in the penultimate event of the year to secure his playing privileges for another season.
“Two quick birdies to start was nice,” said the 40 year old. “It was quite tricky this morning and quite cold. I got up and down a few times but didn’t manage to on the last so finished with a bogey. But overall very pleased.”
Challenge Tour Member Kennedy, who held a four stroke lead after an opening 62 in the first round, continued to set the pace until bogeying the last two holes for a level par 72 and 10 under par total of 134.
“I’m a little disappointed with the way I finished but I’m still only one back,” said Kennedy. “Hopefully get a few more holes in today and make a move from there.
“I played seven holes this morning but just had a couple of lapses. That doesn’t leave the best taste in your mouth but you have to look at the golf over the first couple of days and I have played some good golf. This course is tough in this wind.”
American Rob Rashell, a graduate from last year’s Qualifying School Finals, shot a second round 67 for an eight under par 136 to share third place with Dane Knud Storgaard, one of the few players to finish their second rounds the previous day.
Former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst and fellow Englishman Matthew Cort are a further stroke back on sic under par 138 after rounds of 70 and 68 respectively.
A total of 75 players made the cut, players setting off for the third round at 15.30 GMT.
