Pettersson continues lead in the wind

Carl Pettersson had his overnight lead pegged back as the weather continued to wreak havoc at the delayed Algarve Open in Portugal.

The Swede was six shots ahead after six holes before strong winds called a halt to play at Vale do Lobo, with half the field barely into their second rounds.

Gales off the Atlantic Ocean made play on the short holes of the Anniversary Course impossible, as golf balls were blown about on the greens and tee-pegs were uprooted.

When play resumed Pettersson birdied the second, fourth and fifth holes to move to nine under par, but eventually struggled in the blustery conditions.

He pulled a tee shot into the trees on the sixth hole for a bogey five and topped a fairway wood on the seventh for a double-bogey six.

Although the 24-year-old recovered with a birdie on the next, two more bogeys and a double bogey left him on three-under-par.

And another dropped shot by Pettersson meant there was a joint three-way tie for the lead with Englishman David Gilford and Swede Henrik Nystrom both in the clubhouse on two-under-par.

The first half of the field managed to complete their second rounds, the best moves being made by Spain’s Miguel Angel Martin and Greg Owen of England.

They both finished on a one-under-par total of 143, Martin carding a 70 while Owen posted a 71 - one shot behind the leaders.

Apart from an unfortunate four-putt double bogey six at the seventh, Owen who scored birdies at the fourth, sixth and 16th, where he pitched in from the back of the green, said: "I only missed one green all day which was excellent," he said.

"I also hit most of the fairways and I think that is what it is all about round here. If you hit the fairways you can play around here because the greens are tiny with big slopes so you need to get it as close to the flag as you can.

"I’ve just got to work a bit more on my putting. It’s getting better because we’ve worked hard on it since we came out here but hopefully I can get it going and get a few more birdies tomorrow.

"I’ve played well this season but, as I said, I’ve just got to get my putting sorted out. I think if you looked at the stats before this week, I’m round about last so that’s where the problem is because the game is there.

"I holed a couple today but I missed a few as well although the nice chip in on the 16th helped me out."

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