Emilio Cuartero Blanco will take a one-stroke lead into the weekend of the Euram Bank Open after moving to eight under par courtesy of a second round 67 at Golf Club Adamstal Franz Wittmann.
The 31-year-old carded five birdies and two bogeys to sign for a three under par round and move one-shot clear of countryman Borja Virto, local amateur Christoph Bleier and Frenchman Pierre Pineau, who share second place on seven under.
Cuartero Blanco has been delighted with his approach play over the opening two rounds and despite sitting in pole position, he believes his best golf is yet to come.
“I’m feeling really good after today,” he said. “It’s been two days of good golf and I’m looking forward to the weekend. I played really well from tee to green today but left myself with a bit too much to do with my putter.
“I hit a lot of fairways and greens which meant I had a lot of birdie putts. I shot three under par and I left the course knowing I still have room to improve.”
The Spaniard has reaped the rewards of an aggressive approach in Austria and he will look to adopt the same strategy over the weekend as he goes in search of a second European Challenge Tour title, three years after his maiden victory at the Stone Irish Challenge.
“We had some rain overnight which meant the course was a lot softer today,” he said. “The wind picked up this morning which meant there was a five percent difference in my distances compared to yesterday.
“I want to focus on being aggressive and I want to win. I will take that mindset into the weekend and remain positive throughout.”
Scotsman Craig Ross and New Zealand’s Josh Geary share fifth place on six under par, while Sweden’s Jens Fahrbring, German amateur Leon Breimer and South African Jayden Schaper sit in seventh on five under.
