Lightning halts third day's play

An electrical storm forced the suspension of the third day of the Dunhill Championship on Saturday with 22 players including joint leaders Bradley Dredge and Bradford Vaughan still to complete their round.

Welshman Dredge and South African Vaughan were both 13 under par when play was abandoned, one clear of Denmark's Anders Hansen and a further shot ahead of Britain's Mark Roe.

Action had been earlier held up for 90 minutes before the field returned to the course for five minutes only for the storm to close in again ruling out further play at 1600 local time (1400 GMT).

Dredge, leader from day one, had nine holes of his third round still to negotiate having turned in a two-under-par 34 while Vaughan had played 12 holes on Saturday.

They will restart at 0630 local time on Sunday (0430 GMT) to complete their third rounds and the fourth and final rounds will start three hours later in three-balls.

"It was a bit of a stop-start day but I went back after the resumption and made an important 10-footer for par," said Dredge.

"I felt I was plodding a bit and don't mind coming back in the morning. It gives me a chance to get going and put in a strong finish."

Vaughan, 27, became an affiliate member of the European Tour prior to the start of last week's South African Open, and it proved to be a sound decision.

Victory this weekend would gain him full membership of the tour but a high finish would also add to the 22,480 pounds ($36,380) he earned for a share of third place in Cape Town last week.

Vaughan was four under for the day when the siren sounded for the first suspension, then returned to the 12th and hit a nine iron to 18 feet for a fifth birdie of the day to join Dredge in the lead.

Hansen picked up four birdies in a row from the second but a bogey at the eighth dropped him out of a tie for the lead.

Last week's South African Open winner Trevor Immelman was within striking distance of the lead on nine-under, one-under par for the round.

Earlier, Paul Casey from England, the 2001 European Tour rookie of the year, carded a seven under par 65 to move to eight-under.

He shares the clubhouse lead with five other players including 1999 British Open winner Paul Lawrie from Scotland.

Defending champion Justin Rose carded a two under 70 to move to six under for the championship.

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