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Leaders face a long final day after rain and lightning delay

Lengthy weather delays left the leaders of the US$6.2 million Zurich Classic facing a long day yesterday.

Play was suspended on Saturday afternoon because of heavy rain and lightning, with officials unable to get the players back on the course before darkness fell.

Woody Austin, Nicholas Thompson and Briny Baird of the US and Australian Peter Lonard were atop the leaderboard at eight-under when play was halted.

Australian John Senden, Argentina's Andres Romero, Tim Petrovic of the US, Australian Steve Elkington and American John Merrick were all a stroke behind, with Senden among the 35 players who managed to finish their rounds.

Forty-six players were to complete the third round yesterday prior to the start of the fourth round.

Senden was the leader in the clubhouse. He started the day tied for 49th but a front-nine 32 moved him quickly up the leaderboard.

With a birdie at 14 he was flirting with the course record of 64, but took double-bogey at 17 as he finished with a 66 and a seven-under total of 209.

■ ANDALUCIAN OPEN

AFP, MARBELLA, SPAIN

Defending champion Lee West-wood moved closer to a successful defense of his Andalucian Open title on Saturday when he took a one-shot lead after the third round at the Aloha Golf Course.

A six-under 66 gave the Englishman, who had led after the first round, the edge over three players -- his third round partner Olly Fisher, fellow Englishman David Lynn and Thomas Levet of France.

Sweden's Peter Hedblom, who had been the joint second round leader, is a shot further behind in fifth.

Westwood, 12-under for the tournament, was in impressive form early on Saturday hitting five straight birdies with two more at the ninth and tenth.

A three putt bogey at the 11th was his only blemish as Westwood hit back from a disappointing 73 on Friday.

Alongside Westwood, 19-year-old Fisher did not drop a shot all day, the last of the five birdies in his 67 dropping into the hole from 40 feet on the 18th green.

Jose Maria Olazabal's recuperation from a seven month injury lay-off continued well. The two-time Masters champion carded a third round 71 for a two-under total of 214.
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