Higgins the boss of the moss in Madeira

Mark Tullo has a one shot lead in Madeira. Picture ©Getty ImagesStraight-hitting David Higgins remained top of the putting charts to go into the final round of the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI just two shots outside the top 10.

The Waterville man fired a second successive 69 at Clube de Golf do Santo da Serra to share 19th on three under, nine shots behind leader Mark Tullo of Chile but still in with a chance of a decent cheque.

The 40-year old had just 27 putts for the second day running to be ranked first for putts per round and putts per green in regulation.

As for Tullo (68), the leader is in pole position to claim a maiden European Tour title after edging into a one-shot lead over American Peter Uihlein (69) and Scot Craig Lee (70) on 12 under.

Damien McGrane had a triple bogey seven at the 10th for a one over 73 that leaves him tied for 37th on one under.

Scores

204 M Tullo (Chi) 67 69 68,

205 P Uihlein  (USA) 72 64 69, C Lee (Sco) 67 68 70,

208 M Madsen  (Den) 72 69 67, J Sandelin (Swe) 69 69 70,

210 J Lima  (Por) 73 71 66, D Im (USA) 72 71 67,

211 C Paisley  (Eng) 71 72 68, R Bland (Eng) 66 75 70, R Karlberg  (Swe) 72 68 71, R Kakko  (Fin) 70 70 71,

212 N Fasth (Swe) 75 68 69, C Brazillier  (Fra) 70 68 74, J Howarth (Eng) 72 70 70, S Benson (Eng) 74 69 69, T Levet (Fra) 70 67 75, R Davies (Wal) 74 68 70, S Hansen (Den) 70 68 74,

213 M Brier (Aut) 72 73 68, H Bacher (Aut) 73 70 70, L Saltman (Sco) 64 75 74, J Dantorp (Swe) 70 72 71, B Koepka  (USA) 72 73 68, D Higgins (Irl) 75 69 69, S Tiley (Eng) 71 73 69, T Haylock  (Eng) 71 73 69, D Kemmer (USA) 72 70 71, A Tadini (Ita) 71 72 70, C Doak (Sco) 73 70 70, J Elson  (Eng) 72 71 70, R Derksen (Ned) 72 69 72,

214 J Lagergren (Swe) 67 75 72, M Korhonen (Fin) 72 71 71, R Quiros  (Esp) 73 71 70, P Whiteford (Sco) 70 74 70, V Riu  (Fra) 70 72 72,

215 M Lundberg (Swe) 70 72 73, T Sluiter  (Ned) 71 72 72, R Santos  (Por) 76 70 69, A Pavan (Ita) 73 70 72, D McGrane (Irl) 71 71 73,

216 R Russell (Sco) 73 72 71, S Dyson  (Eng) 75 70 71, P Hedblom (Swe) 71 73 72, S Walker (Eng) 77 68 71,

217 A Snobeck  (Fra) 72 74 71, J Parry (Eng) 70 72 75, T Hatton (Eng) 71 74 72, D Dixon (Eng) 70 74 73, K Eriksson (Swe) 73 69 75, J Ruth  (Eng) 71 75 71, O Floren  (Swe) 72 72 73,

218 P Edberg (Swe) 70 76 72, S Arnold  (Aus) 72 74 72, N Henriques  (Por) 71 73 74, G Pinto (am) (Por) 73 70 75,

219 A Gee  (Eng) 71 75 73, A Marshall (Eng) 75 71 73, R Rock (Eng) 74 72 73, N Quintarelli (Ita) 71 73 75,

220 N Ravano (Ita) 73 73 74, C Del Moral (Esp) 71 72 77, A Perrino  (Ita) 70 73 77, R McGowan  (Eng) 68 77 75,

221 M Delpodio  (Ita) 72 74 75, S Hutsby  (Eng) 74 70 77, A Velasco (Esp) 75 71 75,

222 J Carlota (am) (Por) 72 74 76,

226 G Storm  (Eng) 73 73 80, A Rosado  (Por) 73 73 80.