Poulter holds on to narrow lead

Britain's Ian Poulter holed in one on his way to a second round five-under-par 67 at Olgiata to help him to a one-shot lead in the rain-hit Italian Open.

The 26-year-old Englishman achieved his ace with a four-iron at the 200-yard par-three 16th, his seventh hole, to finish at 16-under-par 128 -- just one stroke short of the 36-hole European Tour record in relation to par.

Fellow Briton Paul Lawrie finished a stroke behind while Italian Emanuele Canonica is three strokes off the pace.

Lawrie claimed nine birdies in an outstanding 63, but missed the chance to take the lead after fluffing putts of four feet and eight feet for birdies at the long 15th and 17th holes.

Canonica also captured nine birdies in his 65 as he bids to be the first Italian to win his home open since Massimo Mannelli in 1980.

Australian Jarrod Moseley is a further stroke back after a 66, but the round of the day belonged to Argentina's Angel Cabrera, his 11-under par 61 lifting him into a share of fifth place with Sweden's Henrik Nystrom.

The big-hitting Cabrera matched Poulter's first round as he reeled off an eagle and nine birdies.

Cabrera's round did not count as equalling the course record because of preferred-lies brought about by the storms which wiped out all Friday's play and reduced the event to 54 holes.

Poulter's ace was his second in successive years in the Italian Open, having holed out in one in the final round last year at Is Molas, Sardinia.

This one kept the Briton on course for his second Italian Open title in three years after his 2000 victory, also at Is Molas.

"It could have been a couple of shots better because I left several putts short out there," said Poulter.

"A six-stroke lead would have been better but three strokes is also perfect. A 67 was acceptable because a 61 was always going to be a hard act to follow."

Poulter was disappointed not to win anything for his ace but made sure he kept a memento of his third hole in one as a professional and fourth of his golfing career.

The Englishman had also aced in the first round of the Heineken Classic in Perth, Australia, last year -- again, though, winning no prize for his feat.

"Nothing last year and nothing this," said Poulter. "I missed out on 100,000 dollars (Australian) in Perth last year because the prize was only on offer on the final day.

"But I'll take the win here. I'm a better player than when I won the last Italian Open because I hole out more times inside 10 feet nowadays."

Ireland's Padraig Harrington has lost all realistic chance of winning and lies 11 strokes off the lead in a share of 34th place.

He needs to finish at least fourth to go above current European rankings leader Retief Goosen, who is playing the U.S. Tour Championship this week, before the pair shoot it out in next week's Volvo Masters.

"The order of merit was always going to be decided next week at Valderrama," said the Irishman.

Saturday's play was delayed 50 minutes because of fog.

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