TELECOM ITALIA OPEN RELATED STORIES Telecom Italia Open Preview Round 1: Backstrom leads with record round Round 2: Rain cuts play to less than an hour Round 3: Andrew McLardy leads as event shortened to 54 holes Round 3: Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano wins in playoff Telecom Italia Open Scores 2007 European Tour Schedule GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Paul Azinger names US wildcards Faldo chooses Casey and Poulter Havret gains wire to wire Gleneagles win Sluman clinches First Tee Open with closing 67 Fallout continues over LPGA "English" rule Poulter chooses high risk Ryder Cup strategy GREAT GIFTS FOR GOLFERS Golf Breaks to Portugal & Ireland Half Price Golf Vouchers InstructaCard - your portable pro! The Father & Son Golf Ch'ship Golf Insurance

Rain cuts play to less than an hour

Play was suspended at the Italian Open on Friday because of rain after less than an hour of play.

Officials said play would not restart until at least 11 a.m. EDT on the waterlogged Castello di Tolcinasco course.

Overnight leader Joakim Backstrom of Sweden, whose 10-under 62 broke the course record by one stroke, and Markus Brier of Austria, who shot a 63, were among the late starters.

Taichi Teshima of Japan, who opened with a 64, bogeyed the second hole and was among those tied for third at 7 under, along with England's Richard Finch.

Finch, who tied for second two years ago, birdied his opening hole and then made two pars before the players were called off the Castello di Tolcinasco course after less than an hour of play.

Philip Price, a former member of Europe's Ryder Cup team, withdrew with a wrist injury, and American Notah Begay pulled out with a recurring back problem.