DENMARK'S JB Hansen claimed the clubhouse lead in the Madeira Islands Open before more bad weather forced play to be suspended for the day.
The tournament had already been reduced to 54 holes after winds gusting up to 47mph meant no play was possible on Thursday, and more strong winds on Friday caused a delay of almost two hours.
When play finally did get under way, Hansen carded a bogey-free 68 at Santo da Serra to lead by one from England's Andrew Marshall and French pair Adrien Saddier and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet.
Half of the field had yet to complete their rounds when play was abandoned for the day at 6pm due to heavy rain.
"I felt great out there and it's a good start," said Hansen, who lost his European Tour card last season. "I missed a short one on the 11th hole for three birdies in a row to start but I feel confident with my swing and I know where the ball is going - I just need to control it in the wind.
"The course is nice, really good conditions, and it's good they made the greens that much slower so the ball doesn't roll in the wind. No bogeys was pretty impressive, I'd take that every day. I didn't feel nervous out there and I just knew what to do.
"Last year I had problems with my short irons; I wasn't hitting it close enough and I worked on that a lot during the winter. I changed putter at the start of this year too and that's working really well for me."
Saddier was two over par after nine holes but started the back nine birdie, eagle, par, birdie, birdie and recovered from a bogey on the 16th with another birdie on the 17th.
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