Vancsik shrugs off long delay to keep Italian Open lead

By Norman Dabell

TURIN, Italy (Reuters) - Argentine Daniel Vancsik was one stroke clear of the field after bad weather severely disrupted play in the Italian Open third round Saturday.

A thunderstorm caused a near four-hour delay before Vancsik returned late in the day to run up two bogeys in the last three holes as he finished with a two-under-par 69 and an 11-under total of 202, one ahead of Finn Roope Kakko (68).

Overnight leader Vancsik had played 15 holes before the storm arrived.

"I was really unlucky because I was playing so well and feeling really confident before the suspension," he told Reuters.

"When we went back I lost my concentration. I three-putted the 17th because it was difficult to see in the bad light. But knowing I was playing so well before that I am confident for tomorrow and I was really glad we finished the round."

Victory would provide Vancsik with his second European Tour title, just over two years after his first at the Madeira Islands Open.

First-round leader Gareth Maybin of Britain, playing with Vancsik, fared even worse on his return as he carded a double-bogey on the 16th.

However, a birdie on 17 gave the Northern Irishman a 70 that left him sharing third place on 204 with South African Thomas Aiken (66).