Spaniard Leads Open de España


The aptly-named Edouard Espana followed up his opening 4-under 68 with a 69 to take the halfway lead in the Open de España. The European Tour event got underway Thursday at Real Club de Golf El Prat near Barcelona.

The 25-year-old Tour rookie posted four birdies and a bogey Friday to reach 7-under 137, a stroke ahead of Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez, who also shot 69, and two in front of Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey and South Africa's Darren Fichardt (73).

Gonzalez, a four-time European Tour winner, was pleased with how he handled the blustery conditions. "I'm happy with my game; two rounds of 69 in this windy conditions is a great score," Gonzalez told the European Tour's website.

"I hit a bad tee shot on 17 and then I tried to hit the green, which was a big mistake, so I paid for it. I made a good six and then I said to my caddy 'I need to make a good birdie on 18'. I played two great shots to the green and that gives me a lot of confidence for tomorrow.

"I would prefer to have it playing tough over the weekend because it advantages the longer hitters and those who are striking the ball well; I find myself in that category this week. I love playing in Spain, I have good friends here, and the food is good, like in Argentina, so I feel at home."

Three behind are Emiliano Grillo and David Howell. First-round leader Trevor Fisher Jnr of South Africa dropped into a tie for 16th at 1-under 143 following a 78.

The cut was set at 4-over 148. The top-ranked player in the field, No. 7 Sergio Garcia, managed to qualify for the weekend despite rounds of 75 and 72. "I didn't feel I played that badly," the Spaniard told reporters. "I hit a lot of good shots, but it's difficult when you don't guess the wind right.

"It was a great week last week with everything that happened," added Garcia, who lost in a playoff to Rickie Fowler in last week's Players Championship in Florida. "It takes it out of you, but it's no excuse. You just try your best and hope it's good enough."

Defending champion Miguel Angel Jiménez had his second hole-in-one of the season, and the ninth of his European Tour career, on the eighth. He shot a 71. Entering Saturday's third round the 51-year-old Spaniard trails by six. The ace was worth 288 bottles of beer.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015036/leaderboard/index.html .