Rodiles takes over lead in the gloom

Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson, despite four successive birdies early on, lost his lead with six holes remaining in the third round of the weather-disrupted Volvo Masters on Saturday.

The 29-year-old from Molndal, chasing his third European Tour title of the season, dropped three shots round the turn to be overhauled by his playing partner Carlos Rodiles just before dusk ended play for the day.

Spaniard Rodiles, who birdied four of his last six holes, was left on 11 under par at a blustery Valderrama, two ahead of Jacobson, who birdied the par-five 11th and then bogeyed the 212-yard 12th before play was suspended.

"It was a roller-coaster of a day and roller-coaster in quality, which is fun," the 28-year-old Rodiles told reporters.

"It just happened for me out there and my iron play was unbelievable. I hit a lot of really close shots all day.

"But on this course, you've got to be patient and, with 25, 26 holes to go, anybody that is within six or seven shots of the lead is in the game."

Denmark's Anders Hansen, the third member of the lead threeball, was a further four strokes back in third with Britain's John Bickerton, who aced the 163-yard sixth, alone in fourth at four under after 13 holes.

No play had been possible on Friday due to heavy rain and strong winds, and organisers conceded they would be unable to complete both rounds two and three in the European Tour's season-ending event on Saturday.

Twenty-six players had completed the third round before darkness closed in on par-72 Valderrama, and the remaining 30 will resume their rounds from 0730 GMT on Sunday.

Jacobson, who set the pace on day one with a brilliant 64, had maintained his two-shot cushion with a second-round 71 earlier in the day, despite bogeying two of the last four holes as the field battled in gusting winds.

Going into round three, the Monaco-based Swede first surrendered his lead when he double-bogeyed the par-three third, missing the green to the left and then taking two shots to escape the rough.

Malaga professional Rodiles, two behind at the start of the round, birdied the same hole to forge ahead by a stroke.

However, Jacobson immediately hit back with birdies at the next four holes and, with the Spaniard offsetting a bogey at the fourth with a birdie at the seventh, the Swede was back in front by three.

But the tournament leader again faltered, dropping shots at the par-four eighth and at the par-four 10th, where his drive ended up at the base of a cork tree.

Meanwhile Rodiles, bidding for his maiden professional title, had birdied eight before picking up his fourth shot of the round at 10 to move one clear.

His lead was then doubled when the Swede also dropped at the par-three 12th, after missing the green off the tee.

Among the big names in the draw, twice U.S. Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal was at two under with five holes to play with fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia at one under after 16.

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie, who shared last year's title with Bernhard Langer after they had squared the first two extra holes in gathering gloom, was level with three to play, while European number two Darren Clarke was two over after 16.

World number nine Padraig Harrington, who had opened with scores of 76 and 74, improved in the afternoon with a two-under-par 70 to finish at four-over 220.

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