Paul Lawrie takes over lead on weather hit day

Briton Paul Lawrie finished his third round in virtual darkness to take over the lead of the Estoril Portuguese Open on Saturday.

Lawrie, who seems to thrive in bad weather, most famously when he won the 1999 British Open at stormy Carnoustie, moved to 11 under with a five-under-par 66.

The leader and his group decided to play out their round in the gloom instead of walking in, as darkness descended on the Oitavos course.

The round had been interrupted three times because of heavy rain and three hours were lost to course waterlogging, but the 36-year-old Scot made light of the conditions.

Lawrie's nearest rival is fellow-Briton Barry Lane, who decided to walk in from the 16th fairway one stroke behind Lawrie. He will resume his round on Sunday morning.

The two overnight leaders, Paul Broadhurst of Britain and Portugal's Jose Filipe Lima, like Lane on the 16th, are a further stroke back.

Success in 1996 over 36 holes in a wind-affected Open Catalonia first showed Lawrie's penchant for winning in difficult conditions.

Three years later he mastered the capricious desert wind in Doha to claim a Qatar Masters title and then came out on top at Carnoustie's links when even Tiger Woods could not cope.

His Dunhill Links Championship victory in 2001 and Wales Open title of 2002, were similarly claimed in atrocious weather conditions.

"I can't deny I play better in bad conditions," said Laurie. "It's like that at home (in Aberdeen) half the time, so you get used to it. I rather hope the sun shines tomorrow though."

Of his decision to carry on and finish in the darkness, he added: "It was worth the chance, I just wanted to get it all over."

Lawrie, who plummeted to 140th on the European money-list last season, has seen a lift to his form this year with a fifth place in the Singapore Masters in late January and 13th in the New Zealand Open in February.

While the weather holds no fears, the 17th at Oitavos is not a favourite of Lawrie's.

He had looked likely to share the second round lead before being disturbed by a photographer on the 17th and double-bogeying the hole on Friday.

On Saturday he hit his ball on to a buggy seat behind the green and failed to save his par after being given a free drop.

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