Skelton Storms Into Tour Championship Lead - 03/06/2007

MICHAEL SKELTON holds a three-shot lead going into the final round of The Azores Tour Championship at Batalha GC.

Skelton, who represents the Wynyard club, enjoyed a superb Sunday after seeing the opening day decimated by storms in the Azores, which forced play to be suspended in mid-afternoon.

The former Walker Cup player hit six birdies on the back nine to complete his first round 68 in style on Sunday morning.

He then returned to the course for his second round, hitting three successive birdies on the front nine, and one more in the back nine.

His only bogey came at the eighth, and the 69 put him three shots clear of Stuart Cage and Lee Wood.

Cage followed up an opening round 75 with a magnificent 65 which included eight birdies, while Wood shot a second round 69 to join him at -4.

Chris Hanson, who was second after opening with a 69, is one of five players sat four shots off the page at -3, alongside John Wells, Noel Fox, David James and Jack Doherty.

Matthew Cort shot a fine 68 for his second round to join Adam Frayne and Mark Ramsdale at two-under-par.

Matthew Richardson, Zane Scotland and Kevin Harper sit at -1, with 2005 Tour Champion Mark Smith among five players at level par.