Scotland’s Richie Ramsay continued to battle for the Wales Open lead late into the night at Celtic Manor today - but was facing a possible two-stroke penalty. After the start of the third round was delayed for over six hours when heavy rain flooded fairways and bunkers, play went on until almost 9pm.

That was still not enough time, however, for everybody to finish and when the action was halted European Tour rookie Ramsay was four under par with two to go and one behind England’s Nick Dougherty, Spaniard Ignacio Garrido and little-known Dane Jeppe Huldahl.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley shot a 71 to move to remain three under, but fellow Dubliner Peter Lawrie shot a 74 to drop back to two over.

However, Tour chief referee John Paramor took Ramsay away to study an incident on the eighth hole.

Placing of the ball was in operation because of the conditions and Ramsay was questioned over whether he had improved his area of intended swing by pressing down the ground behind the position from where he was going to play his next shot.

Meanwhile, European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, joint eighth overnight, fell all the way back to 46th on three over par with a desperately disappointing 78.

It took only five holes for things to go wrong for the 45-year-old, chasing his first win in two years — and a first top 10 finish in almost a year.

On the short third he came up short and rolled down the bank into the lake and at the 433-yard fifth he went from a fairway bunker into more water by the green.

American cup captain Corey Pavin, who had survived the cut with nothing to spare at two over, was two over following a 72.

Dougherty made a magnificent recovery from a front nine 40, picking up three birdies and then a closing eagle in the gathering gloom for an inward 30.

More downpours are forecast for the final day and Dougherty said: “I prepared as if this was the last round and I’m proud of myself because I got into the lead.

“I backed myself, which is something I’ve not done for a year. I deserved the good results I got and my putter got hot again.

“If you trust yourself there’s a good chance it will happen.”

Huldahl, who has never had a top 10 finish in 44 events on the circuit, shot a superb three under 68, while Garrido had a level par 71.

England’s Ross Fisher and Robert Rock, joint second at halfway, were both back to two under when play ended.