NEWPORT, Wales -- Nick Dougherty eagled the final hole in a 1-under 70 Saturday to share the lead in the Celtic Manor Wales Open after the third round was delayed by 6 1/2 hours due to rain.

Jeppe Huldahl of Denmark (68) and Ignacio Garrido of Spain (71) are even with Dougherty at 5-under 208.

Paul Waring (70) and Simon Dyson (70) were one shot back.

After play began following heavy overnight rain and a downpour in the morning, all but one group finished their rounds. That was second-round leaders Richie Ramsay, Robert Rock and Ross Fisher.

Ramsay was locked in discussions with European Tour Chief Referee John Paramor afterward over a possible rule infraction at the eighth hole, but no decision was reached and the matter will be resolved Sunday.

Dougherty reached the elevated green over water at the 18th on the Twenty Ten Course and made a 14-foot eagle putt.

"I really wanted that to get to 5 under," Dougherty said. "It was a tough day. The course is playing ridiculously long and there is no run on the ball. I didn't hit many bad shots but I paid the penalty when I was a little off."

The 27-year-old Huldahl, who made only one bogey, said he likes tough conditions.

"I managed to stay out of trouble pretty much all the way through and got up-and-down when it was important," Huldahl said.

One of seven players at 210 was Paul McGinley (71), who won in 2001 in a playoff after only 36 holes were possible because of wet weather. McGinley, a member of three victorious European Ryder Cup teams, had four birdies and four bogeys.

"I battled well but I need more quality," McGinley said. "I didn't play enough quality shots to get close to the pins. I had three three-putts from 60 or 70 feet."

European Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie hit a 78 for a share of 46th place. His U.S. counterpart, Corey Pavin, had a 71 to be 10 positions higher than Montgomerie.

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 where he was going to play his next shot from on the eighth hole.

"Obviously it's something Richie is concerned about," said Paramor. "He says he was just trying to find any casual water, but he now knows that's not the way to go about it.

"If he's absolutely positive he did not improve his area of swing, then I can't impose a penalty on him based on what I've seen on television," he added. "But it's been left with Richie to come back to us in the morning."

Meanwhile, Montgomerie, tied for eighth overnight, fell all the way back to 46th after his 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.

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.

"I prepared as if this was the last round and I'm proud of myself because I got into the lead," said Dougherty. "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."

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