Madeira Islands Open reduced to 36 holes due to bad weather

SANTO ANTONIO DA SERRA, Portugal (AP) — Bad weather on Saturday forced organizers to reduce the Madeira Islands Open to 36 holes for a second straight year.

Organizers said that heavy rain on the Portuguese archipelago maintained the flooding on the Clube de Golf Santo da Serra course, delaying play for several hours.

Heavy winds prevented the first round from starting on Thursday, and rain interrupted play on Friday.

Denmark's Joachim B. Hansen holds the lead at 4-under 68 after the field was finally able to complete the first round Saturday. A group of eight golfers are one shot behind, followed by another eight at two strokes back.

The final round will be played Sunday.

Last year, heavy fog during the first three days of the event forced organizers to reduce it to 36 holes.