Spaniards split halfway lead in Open de Espana
RAFA CABRERA BELLO and Adri Arnaus share the halfway lead in the Mutuactivos Open de Espana as home players occupied the top four places at Club de Campo in Madrid.
Cabrera Bello, who has yet to drop a shot this week, added a second round of 65 to his opening 66 to finish 11 under par alongside Arnaus, who looked set to hold the outright lead until a bogey on the last in his 66.
World number 1,413 Samuel Del Val is just a shot off the lead after a superb 65, with world number five and defending champion Jon Rahm a stroke further back on nine under following a 67, making it an all-Spanish top four.
Cabrera Bello, whose last European Tour title came in the 2017 Scottish Open, said: “You don’t get to go bogey-free very often and to do it two days in a row, I don’t know how many times I’ve done that.
“I’m obviously very pleased with the way I’m playing. I’m feeling very confident out there, in control of my game and when I get into trouble my resources manage to save par.”
Cabrera Bello played alongside Arnaus and Rahm in the first two rounds and added: “Yesterday was like a dream day and today we had it again. I think we’re minus 31 for the three of us which is remarkable.
“We’ve just been feeding off each other and the crowd. To have thousands of people cheering for us has been really cool.”
Del Val, who carded seven birdies and a solitary bogey in his 65, is contesting his 22nd tournament in the space of 28 weeks as he tries to secure his playing rights somewhere for next season.
“I felt like I controlled both rounds really well, didn’t really make many mistakes,” the 32-year-old said. “I had the putter going both days and I’m in a really good position for the weekend.
“I didn’t feel like the course would suit my game too well but I’ve been smart around it, I’ve left the ball on the right side of the greens so the ups and downs were not as hard. It seems like it’s been easy golf so far.
“I think it’s going to be a great weekend, having the Spaniards on top of the leaderboard hopefully brings even more people out on a great golf course.”
England’s Ross Fisher is six shots off the lead after recording back-toback eagles in his 68, just a fortnight after making the first albatross on the 18th at Wentworth during the BMW PGA Championship.
Fisher, who also made eagles on the fourth and 14th on day one, holed from six feet for eagle on the par-five seventh – his 16th hole of the day – and then spun his approach to the next back into the hole for an eagle two.
“I was flag hunting on the last there trying to go three in a row,” Fisher said. “I know I’ve had a nice run of birdies in a row but I’d be surprised if I’ve done back-to-back eagles.”
Spanish Ryder Cup star Sergio Garcia is seven shots off the lead after carding a second consecutive 69.